Oligonucleotides for reduction of pd-l1 expression

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to antisense oligonucleotides that are capable of reducing expression of PD-L1 in a target cell. The oligonucleotides hybridize to PD-L1 mRNA. The present invention further relates to conjugates of the oligonucleotide and pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treatment of viral liver infections such as HBV, HCV and HDV; parasite infections such as malaria, toxoplasmosis, leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis or liver cancer or metastases in the liver using the oligonucleotide.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to European Application Number 16160149.7, which was filed Mar. 14, 2016, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to oligonucleotides (oligomers) that are complementary to programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1), leading to reduction of the expression of PD-L1 the liver. The present invention also relates to a method of alleviating the T cell exhaustion caused by an infection of the liver or cancer in the liver. Relevant infections are chronic HBV, HCV and HDV and parasite infections like malaria and toxoplasmosis (e.g. caused by protozoa of the Plasmodium, in particular of the species P. vivax, P. malariae and P. falciparum).

BACKGROUND

The costimulatory pathway consisting of the programmed death-1 (PD-1) receptor and its ligand, PD-L1 (or B7-H1 or CD274) is known to contribute directly to T cell exhaustion resulting in lack of viral control during chronic infections of the liver. The PD-1 pathway also plays a role in autoimmunity as mice disrupted in this pathway develop autoimmune diseases.

It has been shown that antibodies that block the interaction between PD-1 and PD-L1 enhance T cell responses, in particular the response of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells (see Barber et al 2006 Nature Vol 439 p 682 and Maier et al 2007 J. Immunol. Vol 178 p 2714).

WO 2006/042237 describes a method of diagnosing cancer by assessing PD-L1 (B7-H1) expression in tumors and suggests delivering an agent, which interferes with the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction, to a patient. Interfering agents can be antibodies, antibody fragments, siRNA or antisense oligonucleotides. There are no specific examples of such interfering agents nor is there any mentioning of chronic liver infections.

RNA interference mediated inhibition of PD-L1 using double stranded RNA (dsRNA, RNAi or siRNA) molecules have also been disclosed in for example WO 2005/007855, WO 2007/084865 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,507,663. None of these describes targeted delivery to the liver.

Dolina et al. 2013 Molecular Therapy-Nucleic Acids, 2 e72 describes in vivo delivery of PD-L1 targeting siRNA molecules to Kupffer cells thereby enhancing NK and CD8+ T cell clearance in MCMV infected mice. This paper concludes that PD-L1 targeting siRNA molecules delivered to hepatocytes are not effective in relation to enhancing CD8+ T cell effector function.

The siRNA approach is significantly different from the single stranded antisense oligonucleotide approach since the biodistribution and the mode of actions is quite different. As described in Xu et al 2003 Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. Vol 306 page 712-717, antisense oligonucleotides and siRNAs have different preferences for target sites in the mRNA.

WO2016/138278 describes inhibition of immune checkpoints including PD-L1, using two or more single stranded antisense oligonucleotides that are linked at their 5′ ends. The application does not mention HBV or targeted delivery to the liver.

OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention identifies novel oligonucleotides and oligonucleotide conjugates which reduce PD-L1 mRNA very efficiently in liver cells, both in parenchymal cells (e.g. hepatocytes) and in non-parenchymal cells such as Kupffer cells and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs). By reducing or silencing PD-L1, the oligonucleotides and oligonucleotide conjugates decrease PD-1-mediated inhibition and thereby promote immunostimulation of exhausted T cells. Alleviation of the T cell exhaustion in a chronic pathogenic infection of the liver will result in regained immune control and reduced levels of viral antigens in the blood during a chronic pathogenic infection of the liver. Natural killer (NK) cells and natural killer T (NKT) cells may also be activated by the oligonucleotides and oligonucleotide conjugates of the present invention.

The oligonucleotide conjugates secures local reduction of PD-L1 in liver cells and therefore reduces the risk of autoimmune side effects, such as pneumonitis, non-viral hepatitis and colitis associated with systemic depletion of PD-L1.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to oligonucleotides or conjugates thereof targeting a nucleic acid capable of modulating the expression of PD-L1 and to treat or prevent diseases related to the functioning of the PD-L1. The oligonucleotides or oligonucleotide conjugates may in particular be used to treat diseases where the immune response against an infectious agent has been exhausted.

Accordingly, in a first aspect the invention provides oligonucleotides which comprise a contiguous nucleotide sequence of 10 to 30 nucleotides in length with at least 90% complementarity to a PD-L1 target nucleic acid. The oligonucleotide can be an antisense oligonucleotide, preferably with a gapmer design. Preferably, the oligonucleotide is capable of inhibiting the expression of PD-L1 by cleavage of a target nucleic acid. The cleavage is preferably achieved via nuclease recruitment.

In a further aspect, the oligonucleotide is conjugated to at least one asialoglycoprotein receptor targeting conjugate moiety, such as a conjugate moiety comprising at least one N-Acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) moiety. The conjugation moiety and the oligonucleotide may be linked together by a linker, in particular a biocleavable linker.

In a further aspect, the invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the oligonucleotides or oligonucleotide conjugates of the invention and pharmaceutically acceptable diluents, carriers, salts and/or adjuvants.

In a further aspect, the invention provides methods for in vivo or in vitro method for reduction of PD-L1 expression in a target cell which is expressing PD-L1, by administering an oligonucleotide or composition of the invention in an effective amount to said cell.

In a further aspect, the invention provides oligonucleotides, oligonucleotide conjugates or pharmaceutical compositions for use in restoration of immunity against a virus or parasite.

In a further aspect, the invention provides oligonucleotides, oligonucleotide conjugates or pharmaceutical compositions for use as a medicament.

In a further aspect the invention provides methods for treating or preventing a disease, disorder or dysfunction by administering a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of the oligonucleotide of the invention to a subject suffering from or susceptible to the disease, disorder or dysfunction, in particular diseases selected from viral liver infections or parasite infections.

In a further aspect the oligonucleotide, oligonucleotide conjugates or pharmaceutical composition of the invention is used in the treatment or prevention of viral liver infections such as HBV, HCV and HDV or a parasite infections such as malaria, toxoplasmosis, leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis or liver cancer or metastases in the liver.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

FIG. 1: Illustrates exemplary antisense oligonucleotide conjugates, where the oligonucleotide either is represented as a wavy line (A-D) or as “oligonucleotide” (E-H) or as T₂ (I) and the asialoglycoprotein receptor targeting conjugate moieties are trivalent N-acetylgalactosamine moieties. Compounds A to D comprise a di-lysine brancher molecule a PEG3 spacer and three terminal GalNAc carbohydrate moieties. In compound A and B the oligonucleotide is attached directly to the asialoglycoprotein receptor targeting conjugate moiety without a linker. In compound C and D the oligonucleotide is attached directly to the asialoglycoprotein receptor targeting conjugate moiety via a C6 linker. Compounds E-I comprise a trebler brancher molecule and spacers of varying length and structure and three terminal GalNAc carbohydrate moieties.

FIG. 2: Graph showing EC50 (A) and PD-L1 knock down as % of saline (B) for the compounds tested in Example 2, in relation to their position on the target nucleic acid. The cell line in which the compound were tested are THP1() and Karpas (*).

FIG. 3: Structural formula of the trivalent GalNAc cluster (GN2). GN2 is useful as conjugation moiety in the present invention. The wavy line illustrates the site of conjugation of the cluster to e.g. a C6 amino linker or directly to the oligonucleotide.

FIG. 4: Structural formula of CMP ID NO 766_2.

FIG. 5: Structural formula of CMP ID NO 767_2.

FIG. 6: Structural formula of CMP ID NO 768_2.

FIG. 7: Structural formula of CMP ID NO 769_2.

FIG. 8: Structural formula of CMP ID NO 770_2.

FIG. 9: Western blot detecting PD-L1 protein expression in liver from poly(IC) induced animals following treatment with saline and the indicated CMP ID NO's. Each blot shows a naked oligonucleotide versus a GalNAc conjugated version of the same oligonucleotide, blot A) CMP ID NO 744_1 and 755_2, B) CMP ID NO 747_1 and 758_2, C) CMP ID NO 748_1 and 759_2, D) CMP ID NO 752_1 and 763_2 and E) CMP ID NO 753_1 and 764_2. The upper band is the vinculin loading control, the lower band is the PD-L1 protein. The first lane in each blot show saline treated mice without Poly(IC) induction. These mice express very little PD-L protein.

FIG. 10: Population of mononuclear cells in the liver after treatment with  vehicle (group 10 and 1), ♦ DNA vaccine (group 11 and 2), ◯ anti-PD-L1 antibody (group 12), ▴ naked PD-L1 ASO+DNA vaccine (group 7) or Δ GalNAc conjugated PD-L1 ASO+DNA vaccine (group 8), for each group the individual animals are represented and the average is indicated by the vertical line for each group (see table 18). Statistical significance between the DNA vaccine group and the three treatment groups has been assessed and if present it is indicated by * between the groups (*=P<0.05, ***=P<0.001 and ****=P<0.0001). A) represents the number of T cells in the liver following treatment. B) represents the fraction of CD4+ T cells and C) represents the fraction of CD8+ T cells.

FIG. 11: Modulation of PD-L1 positive cells in the liver after treatment with  vehicle (group 10 and 1), ♦ DNA vaccine (group 11 and 2), ◯ anti-PD-L1 antibody (group 12), ▴ naked PD-L1 ASO+DNA vaccine (group 7) or Δ GalNAc conjugated PD-L1 ASO+DNA vaccine (group 8), for each group the individual animals are represented and the average is indicated by the vertical line for each group (see table 19). Statistical significance between the DNA vaccine group and the three treatment groups has been assessed and if present it is indicated by * between the groups (*=P<0.05 and ****=P<0.0001). A) represents the percentage of CD8+ T cells which express PD-L1 in the liver following treatment. B) represents the percentage of CD4+ T cells which express PD-L1 in the liver following treatment and C) represents the percentage of B cells which express PD-L1 in the liver following treatment.

FIG. 12: HBV antigen specific CD8+ cytokine secreting cells in the liver after treatment with  vehicle (group 10 and 1), ♦ DNA vaccine (group 11 and 2), ◯ anti-PD-L1 antibody (group 12), ▴ naked PD-L1 ASO+DNA vaccine (group 7) or Δ GalNAc conjugated PD-L1 ASO+DNA vaccine (group 8), for each group the individual animals are represented and the average is indicated by the vertical line for each group (see table 20). Statistical significance between the DNA vaccine group and the three treatment groups has been assessed and if present it is indicated by * between the groups (*=P<0.05). A) represents the percentage of IFN-γ secreting CD8+ T cells in the liver which are specific towards HBV PreS2+S antigen following treatment. B) represents the percentage of IFN-γ secreting CD8+ T cells in the liver which are specific towards HBV core antigen following treatment and C) represents the percentage of IFN-γ and TNF-α secreting CD8+ T cells in the liver which are specific towards HBV PreS2+S antigen following treatment.

FIG. 13: HBV-DNA, HBsAg and HBeAg in AAV/HBV mice following treatment with GalNAc conjugated PD-L1 antisense CMP NO: 759_2 (∇) compared to vehicle (▪). The vertical line indicates the end of treatment.

DEFINITIONS Oligonucleotide

The term “oligonucleotide” as used herein is defined as it is generally understood by the skilled person as a molecule comprising two or more covalently linked nucleosides. Such covalently bound nucleosides may also be referred to as nucleic acid molecules or oligomers. Oligonucleotides are commonly made in the laboratory by solid-phase chemical synthesis followed by purification. When referring to a sequence of the oligonucleotide, reference is made to the sequence or order of nucleobase moieties, or modifications thereof, of the covalently linked nucleotides or nucleosides. The oligonucleotide of the invention is man-made, and is chemically synthesized, and is typically purified or isolated. The oligonucleotide of the invention may comprise one or more modified nucleosides or nucleotides.

Antisense Oligonucleotides

The term “Antisense oligonucleotide” as used herein is defined as oligonucleotides capable of modulating expression of a target gene by hybridizing to a target nucleic acid, in particular to a contiguous sequence on a target nucleic acid. The antisense oligonucleotides are not essentially double stranded and are therefore not siRNAs. Preferably, the antisense oligonucleotides of the present invention are single stranded.

Contiguous Nucleotide Sequence

The term “contiguous nucleotide sequence” refers to the region of the oligonucleotide which is complementary to the target nucleic acid. The term is used interchangeably herein with the term “contiguous nucleobase sequence” and the term “oligonucleotide motif sequence”. In some embodiments all the nucleotides of the oligonucleotide constitute the contiguous nucleotide sequence. In some embodiments the oligonucleotide comprises the contiguous nucleotide sequence and may optionally comprise further nucleotide(s), for example a nucleotide linker region which may be used to attach a functional group to the contiguous nucleotide sequence. The nucleotide linker region may or may not be complementary to the target nucleic acid.

Nucleotides

Nucleotides are the building blocks of oligonucleotides and polynucleotides and for the purposes of the present invention include both naturally occurring and non-naturally occurring nucleotides. In nature, nucleotides, such as DNA and RNA nucleotides comprise a ribose sugar moiety, a nucleobase moiety and one or more phosphate groups (which is absent in nucleosides). Nucleosides and nucleotides may also interchangeably be referred to as “units” or “monomers”.

Modified Nucleoside

The term “modified nucleoside” or “nucleoside modification” as used herein refers to nucleosides modified as compared to the equivalent DNA or RNA nucleoside by the introduction of one or more modifications of the sugar moiety or the (nucleo)base moiety. In a preferred embodiment the modified nucleoside comprise a modified sugar moiety. The term modified nucleoside may also be used herein interchangeably with the term “nucleoside analogue” or modified “units” or modified “monomers”.

Modified Internucleoside Linkage

The term “modified internucleoside linkage” is defined as generally understood by the skilled person as linkages other than phosphodiester (PO) linkages, that covalently couples two nucleosides together. Nucleotides with modified internucleoside linkage are also termed “modified nucleotides”. In some embodiments, the modified internucleoside linkage increases the nuclease resistance of the oligonucleotide compared to a phosphodiester linkage. For naturally occurring oligonucleotides, the internucleoside linkage includes phosphate groups creating a phosphodiester bond between adjacent nucleosides. Modified internucleoside linkages are particularly useful in stabilizing oligonucleotides for in vivo use, and may serve to protect against nuclease cleavage at regions of DNA or RNA nucleosides in the oligonucleotide of the invention, for example within the gap region of a gapmer oligonucleotide, as well as in regions of modified nucleosides.

In an embodiment, the oligonucleotide comprises one or more internucleoside linkages modified from the natural phosphodiester to a linkage that is for example more resistant to nuclease attack. Nuclease resistance may be determined by incubating the oligonucleotide in blood serum or by using a nuclease resistance assay (e.g. snake venom phosphodiesterase (SVPD)), both are well known in the art. Internucleoside linkages which are capable of enhancing the nuclease resistance of an oligonucleotide are referred to as nuclease resistant internucleoside linkages. In some embodiments at least 50% of the internucleoside linkages in the oligonucleotide, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, are modified, such as at least 60%, such as at least 70%, such as at least 80 or such as at least 90% of the internucleoside linkages in the oligonucleotide, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, are modified. In some embodiments all of the internucleoside linkages of the oligonucleotide, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, are modified. It will be recognized that, in some embodiments the nucleosides which link the oligonucleotide of the invention to a non-nucleotide functional group, such as a conjugate, may be phosphodiester. In some embodiments all of the internucleoside linkages of the oligonucleotide, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, are nuclease resistant internucleoside linkages.

Modified internucleoside linkages may be selected from the group comprising phosphorothioate, diphosphorothioate and boranophosphate. In some embodiments, the modified internucleoside linkages are compatible with the RNaseH recruitment of the oligonucleotide of the invention, for example phosphorothioate, diphosphorothioate or boranophosphate.

In some embodiments the internucleoside linkage comprises sulphur (S), such as a phosphorothioate internucleoside linkage.

A phosphorothioate internucleoside linkage is particularly useful due to nuclease resistance, beneficial pharmakokinetics and ease of manufacture. In some embodiments at least 50% of the internucleoside linkages in the oligonucleotide, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, are phosphorothioate, such as at least 60%, such as at least 70%, such as at least 80 or such as at least 90% of the internucleoside linkages in the oligonucleotide, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, are phosphorothioate. In some embodiments all of the internucleoside linkages of the oligonucleotide, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, are phosphorothioate.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide comprises one or more neutral internucleoside linkage, particularly a internucleoside linkage selected from phosphotriester, methylphosphonate, MMI, amide-3, formacetal or thioformacetal.

Further internucleoside linkages are disclosed in WO2009/124238 (incorporated herein by reference). In an embodiment the internucleoside linkage is selected from linkers disclosed in WO2007/031091 (incorporated herein by reference). Particularly, the internucleoside linkage may be selected from —O—P(O)₂—O—, —O—P(O,S)—O—, —O—P(S)₂—O—, —S—P(O)₂—O—, —S—P(O,S)—O—, —S—P(S)₂—O—, —O—P(O)₂—S—, —O—P(O,S)—S—, —S—P(O)₂—S—, —O—PO(R^(H))—O—, 0-PO(OCH₃)—0-, —O—PO(NR^(H))—O—, —O—PO(OCH₂CH₂S—R)—O—, —O—PO(BH₃)—O—, —O—PO(NHR^(H))—O—, —O—P(O)₂—NR^(H)—, —NR^(H)—P(O)₂—O—, —NR^(H)—CO—O—, —NR^(H)—CO—NR^(H)—, and/or the internucleoside linker may be selected form the group consisting of: —O—CO—O—, —O—CO—NR^(H)—, —NR^(H)—CO—CH₂—, —O—CH₂—CO—NR^(H)—, —O—CH₂—CH₂—NR^(H)—, —CO—NR^(H)—CH₂—, —CH₂—NR^(H)CO—, —O—CH₂—CH₂—S—, —S—CH₂—CH₂—O—, —S—CH₂—CH₂—S—, —CH₂—SO₂—CH₂—, —CH₂—CO—NR^(H)—, —O—CH₂—CH₂—NR^(H)—CO—, —CH₂—NCH₃—O—CH₂—, where R^(H) is selected from hydrogen and C1-4-alkyl.

Nuclease resistant linkages, such as phosphothioate linkages, are particularly useful in oligonucleotide regions capable of recruiting nuclease when forming a duplex with the target nucleic acid, such as region G for gapmers, or the non-modified nucleoside region of headmers and tailmers. Phosphorothioate linkages may, however, also be useful in non-nuclease recruiting regions and/or affinity enhancing regions such as regions F and F′ for gapmers, or the modified nucleoside region of headmers and tailmers.

Each of the design regions may however comprise internucleoside linkages other than phosphorothioate, such as phosphodiester linkages, in particularly in regions where modified nucleosides, such as LNA, protect the linkage against nuclease degradation. Inclusion of phosphodiester linkages, such as one or two linkages, particularly between or adjacent to modified nucleoside units (typically in the non-nuclease recruiting regions) can modify the bioavailability and/or bio-distribution of an oligonucleotide—see WO2008/113832, incorporated herein by reference.

In an embodiment all the internucleoside linkages in the oligonucleotide are phosphorothioate and/or boranophosphate linkages. Preferably, all the internucleoside linkages in the oligonucleotide are phosphorothioate linkages.

Nucleobase

The term nucleobase includes the purine (e.g. adenine and guanine) and pyrimidine (e.g. uracil, thymine and cytosine) moiety present in nucleosides and nucleotides which form hydrogen bonds in nucleic acid hybridization. In the context of the present invention the term nucleobase also encompasses modified nucleobases which may differ from naturally occurring nucleobases, but are functional during nucleic acid hybridization. In this context “nucleobase” refers to both naturally occurring nucleobases such as adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymidine, uracil, xanthine and hypoxanthine, as well as non-naturally occurring variants. Such variants are for example described in Hirao et al (2012) Accounts of Chemical Research vol 45 page 2055 and Bergstrom (2009) Current Protocols in Nucleic Acid Chemistry Suppl. 37 1.4.1.

In a some embodiments the nucleobase moiety is modified by changing the purine or pyrimidine into a modified purine or pyrimidine, such as substituted purine or substituted pyrimidine, such as a nucleobased selected from isocytosine, pseudoisocytosine, 5-methyl cytosine, 5-thiozolo-cytosine, 5-propynyl-cytosine, 5-propynyl-uracil, 5-bromouracil 5-thiazolo-uracil, 2-thio-uracil, 2′thio-thymine, inosine, diaminopurine, 6-aminopurine, 2-aminopurine, 2,6-diaminopurine and 2-chloro-6-aminopurine.

The nucleobase moieties may be indicated by the letter code for each corresponding nucleobase, e.g. A, T, G, C or U, wherein each letter may optionally include modified nucleobases of equivalent function. For example, in the exemplified oligonucleotides, the nucleobase moieties are selected from A, T, G, C, and 5-methyl cytosine. Optionally, for LNA gapmers, 5-methyl cytosine LNA nucleosides may be used.

Modified Oligonucleotide

The term modified oligonucleotide describes an oligonucleotide comprising one or more sugar-modified nucleosides and/or modified internucleoside linkages. The term chimeric” oligonucleotide is a term that has been used in the literature to describe oligonucleotides with modified nucleosides.

Complementarity

The term “complementarity” describes the capacity for Watson-Crick base-pairing of nucleosides/nucleotides. Watson-Crick base pairs are guanine (G)-cytosine (C) and adenine (A)-thymine (T)/uracil (U). It will be understood that oligonucleotides may comprise nucleosides with modified nucleobases, for example 5-methyl cytosine is often used in place of cytosine, and as such the term complementarity encompasses Watson Crick base-paring between non-modified and modified nucleobases (see for example Hirao et al (2012) Accounts of Chemical Research vol 45 page 2055 and Bergstrom (2009) Current Protocols in Nucleic Acid Chemistry Suppl. 37 1.4.1).

The term “% complementary” as used herein, refers to the number of nucleotides in percent of a contiguous nucleotide sequence in a nucleic acid molecule (e.g. oligonucleotide) which, at a given position, are complementary to (i.e. form Watson Crick base pairs with) a contiguous nucleotide sequence, at a given position of a separate nucleic acid molecule (e.g. the target nucleic acid). The percentage is calculated by counting the number of aligned bases that form pairs between the two sequences (when aligned with the target sequence 5′-3′ and the oligonucleotide sequence from 3′-5′), dividing by the total number of nucleotides in the oligonucleotide and multiplying by 100. In such a comparison a nucleobase/nucleotide which does not align (form a base pair) is termed a mismatch.

The term “fully complementary”, refers to 100% complementarity.

The following is an example of an oligonucleotide (SEQ ID NO: 5) that is fully complementary to the target nucleic acid (SEQ ID NO: 772).

(SEQ ID NO: 772) 5′gcagtagagccaatta3′ (SEQ ID NO: 5) 3′cgtcatctcggttaat5′

Identity

The term “Identity” as used herein, refers to the number of nucleotides in percent of a contiguous nucleotide sequence in a nucleic acid molecule (e.g. oligonucleotide) which, at a given position, are identical to (i.e. in their ability to form Watson Crick base pairs with the complementary nucleoside) a contiguous nucleotide sequence, at a given position of a separate nucleic acid molecule (e.g. the target nucleic acid). The percentage is calculated by counting the number of aligned bases that are identical between the two sequences, including gaps, dividing by the total number of nucleotides in the oligonucleotide and multiplying by 100.

Percent Identity=(Matches×100)/Length of aligned region (with gaps).

Hybridization

The term “hybridizing” or “hybridizes” as used herein is to be understood as two nucleic acid strands (e.g. an oligonucleotide and a target nucleic acid) forming hydrogen bonds between base pairs on opposite strands thereby forming a duplex. The affinity of the binding between two nucleic acid strands is the strength of the hybridization. It is often described in terms of the melting temperature (T_(m)) defined as the temperature at which half of the oligonucleotides are duplexed with the target nucleic acid. At physiological conditions T_(m) is not strictly proportional to the affinity (Mergny and Lacroix, 2003, Oligonucleotides 13:515-537). The standard state Gibbs free energy ΔG° is a more accurate representation of binding affinity and is related to the dissociation constant (K_(d)) of the reaction by ΔG°=−RTIn(K_(d)), where R is the gas constant and T is the absolute temperature. Therefore, a very low ΔG° of the reaction between an oligonucleotide and the target nucleic acid reflects a strong hybridization between the oligonucleotide and target nucleic acid. ΔG° is the energy associated with a reaction where aqueous concentrations are 1M, the pH is 7, and the temperature is 37° C. The hybridization of oligonucleotides to a target nucleic acid is a spontaneous reaction and for spontaneous reactions ΔG° is less than zero. ΔG° can be measured experimentally, for example, by use of the isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) method as described in Hansen et al., 1965, Chem. Comm. 36-38 and Holdgate et al., 2005, Drug Discov Today. The skilled person will know that commercial equipment is available for ΔG° measurements. ΔG° can also be estimated numerically by using the nearest neighbor model as described by SantaLucia, 1998, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 95: 1460-1465 using appropriately derived thermodynamic parameters described by Sugimoto et al., 1995, Biochemistry 34:11211-11216 and McTigue et al., 2004, Biochemistry 43:5388-5405. In order to have the possibility of modulating its intended nucleic acid target by hybridization, oligonucleotides of the present invention hybridize to a target nucleic acid with estimated ΔG° values below −10 kcal for oligonucleotides that are 10-30 nucleotides in length. In some embodiments the degree or strength of hybridization is measured by the standard state Gibbs free energy ΔG°. The oligonucleotides may hybridize to a target nucleic acid with estimated ΔG° values below the range of −10 kcal, such as below −15 kcal, such as below −20 kcal and such as below −25 kcal for oligonucleotides that are 8-30 nucleotides in length. In some embodiments the oligonucleotides hybridize to a target nucleic acid with an estimated ΔG° value of −10 to −60 kcal, such as −12 to −40, such as from −15 to −30 kcal or −16 to −27 kcal such as −18 to −25 kcal.

Target Nucleic Acid

According to the present invention, the target nucleic acid is a nucleic acid which encodes mammalian PD-L1 and may for example be a gene, a RNA, a mRNA, and pre-mRNA, a mature mRNA or a cDNA sequence. The target may therefore be referred to as a PD-L1 target nucleic acid. The oligonucleotide of the invention may for example target exon regions of a mammalian PD-L1, or may for example target intron region in the PD-L1 pre-mRNA (see Table 1).

TABLE 1 human PD-L1 Exons and Introns Exonic regions in the Intronic regions in the human PD-L1 premRNA human PD-L1 premRNA (SEQ ID NO 1) (SEQ ID NO 1) ID start end ID start end e1 1 94 i1 95 5597 e2 5598 5663 i2 5664 6576 e3 6577 6918 i3 6919 12331 e4 12332 12736 i4 12737 14996 e5 14997 15410 i5 15411 16267 e6 16268 16327 i6 16328 17337 e7 17338 20064

Suitably, the target nucleic acid encodes a PD-L1 protein, in particular mammalian PD-L1, such as human PD-L1 (See for example tables 2 and 3, which provide reference to the mRNA and pre-mRNA sequences for human, monkey, and mouse PD-L1). In the context of the present invention pre-mRNA is also considered as a nucleic acid that encodes a protein.

In some embodiments, the target nucleic acid is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 and 3 or naturally occurring variants thereof (e.g. sequences encoding a mammalian PD-L1 protein).

If employing the oligonucleotide of the invention in research or diagnostics the target nucleic acid may be a cDNA or a synthetic nucleic acid derived from DNA or RNA.

For in vivo or in vitro application, the oligonucleotide of the invention is typically capable of inhibiting the expression of the PD-L1 target nucleic acid in a cell which is expressing the PD-L1 target nucleic acid. The contiguous sequence of nucleobases of the oligonucleotide of the invention is typically complementary to the PD-L1 target nucleic acid, as measured across the length of the oligonucleotide, optionally with the exception of one or two mismatches, and optionally excluding nucleotide based linker regions which may link the oligonucleotide to an optional functional group such as a conjugate, or other non-complementary terminal nucleotides (e.g. region D′ or D″). The target nucleic acid may, in some embodiments, be a RNA or DNA, such as a messenger RNA, such as a mature mRNA or a pre-mRNA. In some embodiments the target nucleic acid is a RNA or DNA which encodes mammalian PD-L1 protein, such as human PD-L1, e.g. the human PD-L1 premRNA sequence, such as that disclosed as SEQ ID NO 1 or the human mRNA sequence with NCBI reference number NM_01414. Further information on exemplary target nucleic acids is provided in tables 2 and 3.

TABLE 2 Genome and assembly information for PD-L1 across species. NCBI reference Genomic coordinates sequence* accession Species Chr. Strand Start End Assembly number for mRNA Human 9 fwd 5450503 5470566 GRCh38:CM000671.2 NM_014143 Cynomolgus 15 73560846 73581371 GCF_000364345.1 XM_005581779 monkey Mouse 19 fwd 29367455 29388095 GRCm38:CM001012.2 NM_021893 Fwd = forward strand. The genome coordinates provide the pre-mRNA sequence (genomic sequence). The NCBI reference provides the mRNA sequence (cDNA sequence). *The National Center for Biotechnology Information reference sequence database is a comprehensive, integrated, non-redundant, well-annotated set of reference sequences including genomic, transcript, and protein. It is hosted at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/refseq.

TABLE 3 Sequence details for PD-L1 across species. Length SEQ ID Species RNA type (nt) NO Human premRNA 20064 1 Monkey Cyno premRNA GCF ref 20261 2 Monkey Cyno premRNA Internal 20340 3 Mouse premRNA 20641 4

Target Sequence

The term “target sequence” as used herein refers to a sequence of nucleotides present in the target nucleic acid which comprises the nucleobase sequence which is complementary to the oligonucleotide of the invention. In some embodiments, the target sequence consists of a region on the target nucleic acid which is complementary to the contiguous nucleotide sequence of the oligonucleotide of the invention. In some embodiments the target sequence is longer than the complementary sequence of a single oligonucleotide, and may, for example represent a preferred region of the target nucleic acid which may be targeted by several oligonucleotides of the invention.

The target sequence may be a sub-sequence of the target nucleic acid.

In some embodiments the sub-sequence is a sequence selected from the group consisting of a1-a149 (see tables 4). In some embodiments the sub-sequence is a sequence selected from the group consisting of a human PD-L1 mRNA exon, such as a PD-L1 human mRNA exon selected from the group consisting of e1, e2, e3, e4, e5, e6, and e7 (see table 1 above).

In some embodiments the sub-sequence is a sequence selected from the group consisting of a human PD-L1 mRNA intron, such as a PD-L1 human mRNA intron selected from the group consisting of i1, i2, i3, i4, i5 and i6 (see table 1 above).

The oligonucleotide of the invention comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence which is complementary to or hybridizes to the target nucleic acid, such as a sub-sequence of the target nucleic acid, such as a target sequence described herein.

The oligonucleotide comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence of at least 8 nucleotides which is complementary to or hybridizes to a target sequence present in the target nucleic acid molecule. The contiguous nucleotide sequence (and therefore the target sequence) comprises of at least 8 contiguous nucleotides, such as 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 or 30 contiguous nucleotides, such as from 12-25, such as from 14-18 contiguous nucleotides.

Target Cell

The term a “target cell” as used herein refers to a cell which is expressing the target nucleic acid. In some embodiments the target cell may be in vivo or in vitro. In some embodiments the target cell is a mammalian cell such as a rodent cell, such as a mouse cell or a rat cell, or a primate cell such as a monkey cell or a human cell.

In preferred embodiments the target cell expresses PD-L1 mRNA, such as the PD-L1 pre-mRNA or PD-L1 mature mRNA. The poly A tail of PD-L1 mRNA is typically disregarded for antisense oligonucleotide targeting.

Naturally Occurring Variant

The term “naturally occurring variant” refers to variants of PD-L1 gene or transcripts which originate from the same genetic loci as the target nucleic acid, but may differ for example, by virtue of degeneracy of the genetic code causing a multiplicity of codons encoding the same amino acid, or due to alternative splicing of pre-mRNA, or the presence of polymorphisms, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms, and allelic variants. Based on the presence of the sufficient complementary sequence to the oligonucleotide, the oligonucleotide of the invention may therefore target the target nucleic acid and naturally occurring variants thereof.

In some embodiments, the naturally occurring variants have at least 95% such as at least 98% or at least 99% homology to a mammalian PD-L1 target nucleic acid, such as a target nucleic acid selected form the group consisting of SEQ ID NO 1, 2 and 3.

Numerous single nucleotide polymorphisms are known in the PD-L1 gene, for example those disclosed in the following table (human premRNA start/reference sequence is SEQ ID NO 2)

Minor Start Variant Variant minor allele on SEQ name alleles allele frequency ID NO: 1 rs73397192 G/A A 0.10 2591 rs12342381 A/G G 0.12 308 rs16923173 G/A A 0.13 14760 rs2890658 C/A A 0.16 14628 rs2890657 G/C C 0.21 2058 rs3780395 A/G A 0.21 14050 rs147367592 AG/— — 0.21 13425 rs7023227 T/C T 0.22 6048 rs2297137 G/A A 0.23 15230 rs1329946 G/A A 0.23 2910 rs5896124 —/G G 0.23 2420 rs61061063 T/C C 0.23 11709 rs1411263 T/C C 0.23 8601 rs59906468 A/G G 0.23 15583 rs6476976 T/C T 0.24 21012 rs35744625 C/A A 0.24 3557 rs17804441 T/C C 0.24 7231 rs148602745 C/T T 0.25 22548 rs4742099 G/A A 0.25 20311 rs10815228 T/C C 0.25 21877 rs58817806 A/G G 0.26 20769 rs822342 T/C T 0.27 3471 rs10481593 G/A A 0.27 7593 rs822339 A/G A 0.28 2670 rs860290 A/C A 0.28 2696 rs822340 A/G A 0.28 2758 rs822341 T/C T 0.28 2894 rs12002985 C/G C 0.28 6085 rs822338 C/T C 0.28 1055 rs866066 C/T T 0.28 451 rs6651524 A/T T 0.28 8073 rs6415794 A/T A 0.28 8200 rs4143815 G/C C 0.28 17755 rs111423622 G/A A 0.28 24096 rs6651525 C/A A 0.29 8345 rs4742098 A/G G 0.29 19995 rs10975123 C/T T 0.30 10877 rs2282055 T/G G 0.30 5230 rs4742100 A/C C 0.30 20452 rs60520638 —/TC TC 0.30 9502 rs17742278 T/C C 0.30 6021 rs7048841 T/C T 0.30 10299 rs10815229 T/G G 0.31 22143 rs10122089 C/T C 0.32 13278 rs1970000 C/A C 0.32 14534 rs112071324 AGAGAG/— AGAGAG 0.33 16701 rs2297136 G/A G 0.33 17453 rs10815226 A/T T 0.33 9203 rs10123377 A/G A 0.36 10892 rs10123444 A/G A 0.36 11139 rs7042084 G/T G 0.36 7533 rs10114060 G/A A 0.36 11227 rs7028894 G/A G 0.36 10408 rs4742097 C/T C 0.37 5130 rs1536926 G/T G 0.37 13486 rs1411262 C/T T 0.39 8917 rs7041009 G/A A 0.45 12741

Modulation of Expression

The term “modulation of expression” as used herein is to be understood as an overall term for an oligonucleotide's ability to alter the amount of PD-L1 when compared to the amount of PD-L1 before administration of the oligonucleotide. Alternatively modulation of expression may be determined by reference to a control experiment. It is generally understood that the control is an individual or target cell treated with a saline composition or an individual or target cell treated with a non-targeting oligonucleotide (mock). It may however also be an individual treated with the standard of care.

One type of modulation is an oligonucleotide's ability to inhibit, down-regulate, reduce, suppress, remove, stop, block, prevent, lessen, lower, avoid or terminate expression of PD-L1, e.g. by degradation of mRNA or blockage of transcription. Another type of modulation is an oligonucleotide's ability to restore, increase or enhance expression of PD-L1, e.g. by repair of splice sites or prevention of splicing or removal or blockage of inhibitory mechanisms such as microRNA repression.

High Affinity Modified Nucleosides

A high affinity modified nucleoside is a modified nucleotide which, when incorporated into the oligonucleotide enhances the affinity of the oligonucleotide for its complementary target, for example as measured by the melting temperature (T^(m)). A high affinity modified nucleoside of the present invention preferably result in an increase in melting temperature between +0.5 to +12° C., more preferably between +1.5 to +10° C. and most preferably between +3 to +8° C. per modified nucleoside. Numerous high affinity modified nucleosides are known in the art and include for example, many 2′ substituted nucleosides as well as locked nucleic acids (LNA) (see e.g. Freier & Altmann; Nucl. Acid Res., 1997, 25, 4429-4443 and Uhlmann; Curr. Opinion in Drug Development, 2000, 3(2), 293-213).

Sugar Modifications

The oligomer of the invention may comprise one or more nucleosides which have a modified sugar moiety, i.e. a modification of the sugar moiety when compared to the ribose sugar moiety found in DNA and RNA.

Numerous nucleosides with modification of the ribose sugar moiety have been made, primarily with the aim of improving certain properties of oligonucleotides, such as affinity and/or nuclease resistance.

Such modifications include those where the ribose ring structure is modified, e.g. by replacement with a hexose ring (HNA), or a bicyclic ring, which typically have a biradicle bridge between the C2 and C4 carbons on the ribose ring (LNA), or an unlinked ribose ring which typically lacks a bond between the C2 and C3 carbons (e.g. UNA). Other sugar modified nucleosides include, for example, bicyclohexose nucleic acids (WO2011/017521) or tricyclic nucleic acids (WO2013/154798). Modified nucleosides also include nucleosides where the sugar moiety is replaced with a non-sugar moiety, for example in the case of peptide nucleic acids (PNA), or morpholino nucleic acids.

Sugar modifications also include modifications made via altering the substituent groups on the ribose ring to groups other than hydrogen, or the 2′-OH group naturally found in DNA and RNA nucleosides. Substituents may, for example be introduced at the 2′, 3′, 4′ or 5′ positions. Nucleosides with modified sugar moieties also include 2′ modified nucleosides, such as 2′ substituted nucleosides. Indeed, much focus has been spent on developing 2′ substituted nucleosides, and numerous 2′ substituted nucleosides have been found to have beneficial properties when incorporated into oligonucleotides, such as enhanced nucleoside resistance and enhanced affinity.

2′ Modified Nucleosides.

A 2′ sugar modified nucleoside is a nucleoside which has a substituent other than H or —OH at the 2′ position (2′ substituted nucleoside) or comprises a 2′ linked biradicle, and includes 2′ substituted nucleosides and LNA (2′-4′ biradicle bridged) nucleosides. For example, the 2′ modified sugar may provide enhanced binding affinity and/or increased nuclease resistance to the oligonucleotide. Examples of 2′ substituted modified nucleosides are 2′-O-alkyl-RNA, 2′-O-methyl-RNA, 2′-alkoxy-RNA, 2′-O-methoxyethyl-RNA (MOE), 2′-amino-DNA, 2′-Fluoro-RNA, and 2′-F-ANA nucleoside. For further examples, please see e.g. Freier & Altmann; Nucl. Acid Res., 1997, 25, 4429-4443 and Uhlmann; Curr. Opinion in Drug Development, 2000, 3(2), 293-213, and Deleavey and Damha, Chemistry and Biology 2012, 19, 937. Below are illustrations of some 2′ substituted modified nucleosides.

Locked Nucleic Acid Nucleosides (LNA).

LNA nucleosides are modified nucleosides which comprise a linker group (referred to as a biradicle or a bridge) between C2′ and C4′ of the ribose sugar ring of a nucleotide. These nucleosides are also termed bridged nucleic acid or bicyclic nucleic acid (BNA) in the literature.

In some embodiments, the modified nucleoside or the LNA nucleosides of the oligomer of the invention has a general structure of the formula I or II:

wherein W is selected from —O—, —S—, —N(R^(a))—, —C(R^(a)R^(b))—, such as, in some embodiments —O—; B designates a nucleobase or modified nucleobase moiety; Z designates an internucleoside linkage to an adjacent nucleoside, or a 5′-terminal group; Z* designates an internucleoside linkage to an adjacent nucleoside, or a 3′-terminal group; X designates a group selected from the list consisting of —C(R^(a)R^(b))—, —C(R^(a))═C(R^(b))—, —C(R^(a))═N—, —O—, —Si(R^(a))₂—, —S—, —SO₂—, —N(R^(a))—, and >C═Z

-   -   In some embodiments, X is selected from the group consisting of:         —O—, —S—, NH—, NR^(a)R^(b), —CH₂—, CR^(a)R^(b), —C(═CH₂)—, and         —C(═CR^(a)R^(b))—     -   In some embodiments, X is —O—         Y designates a group selected from the group consisting of         —C(R^(a)R^(b))—, —C(R^(a))═C(R^(b))—, —C(R^(a))═N—, —O—,         —Si(R^(a))₂—, —S—, —SO₂—, —N(R^(a))—, and >C═Z     -   In some embodiments, Y is selected from the group consisting of:         —CH₂—, —C(R^(a)R^(b))—, —CH₂CH₂—, —C(R^(a)R^(b))—C(R^(a)R^(b))—,         —CH₂CH₂CH₂—, —C(R^(a)R^(b))C(R^(a)R^(b))C(R^(a)R^(b))—,         —C(R^(a))═C(R^(b))—, and —C(R^(a))═N—     -   In some embodiments, Y is selected from the group consisting of:         —CH₂—, —CHR^(a)—, —CHCH₃—, CR^(a)R^(b)—         or —X—Y— together designate a bivalent linker group (also         referred to as a radicle) together designate a bivalent linker         group consisting of 1, 2, 3 or 4 groups/atoms selected from the         group consisting of —C(R^(a)R^(b))—, —C(R^(a))═C(R^(b))—,         —C(R^(a))═N—, —O—, —Si(R^(a))₂—, —S—, —SO₂—, —N(R^(a))—, and         >C═Z,     -   In some embodiments, —X—Y— designates a biradicle selected from         the groups consisting of: —X—CH₂—, —X—CR^(a)R^(b)—, —X—CHR^(a)—,         —X—C(HCH₃)—, —O—Y—, —O—CH₂—, —S—CH₂—, —NH—CH₂—, —O—CHCH₃—,         —CH₂—O—CH₂, —O—CH(CH₃CH₃)—, —O—CH₂—CH₂—, OCH₂—CH₂—CH₂—,         —O—CH₂OCH₂—, —O—NCH₂—, —C(═CH₂)—CH₂—, —NR^(a)—CH₂—, N—O—CH₂,         —S—CR^(a)R^(b)— and —S—CHR^(a)—.     -   In some embodiments —X—Y— designates —O—CH₂— or —O—CH(CH₃)—.         wherein Z is selected from —O—, —S—, and —N(R^(a))—,         and R^(a) and, when present R^(b), each is independently         selected from hydrogen, optionally substituted C₁₋₆-alkyl,         optionally substituted C₂₋₆-alkenyl, optionally substituted         C₂₋₆-alkynyl, hydroxy, optionally substituted C₁₋₆-alkoxy,         C₂₋₆-alkoxyalkyl, C₂₋₆-alkenyloxy, carboxy, C₁₋₆-alkoxycarbonyl,         C₁₋₆-alkylcarbonyl, formyl, aryl, aryloxy-carbonyl, aryloxy,         arylcarbonyl, heteroaryl, heteroaryloxy-carbonyl, heteroaryloxy,         heteroarylcarbonyl, amino, mono- and di(C₁₋₆-alkyl)amino,         carbamoyl, mono- and di(C₁₋₆-alkyl)-amino-carbonyl,         amino-C₁₋₆-alkyl-aminocarbonyl, mono- and         di(C₁₋₆-alkyl)amino-C₁₋₆-alkyl-aminocarbonyl,         C₁₋₆-alkyl-carbonylamino, carbamido, C₁₋₆-alkanoyloxy, sulphono,         C₁₋₆-alkylsulphonyloxy, nitro, azido, sulphanyl, C₁₋₆-alkylthio,         halogen, where aryl and heteroaryl may be optionally substituted         and where two geminal substituents R^(a) and R^(b) together may         designate optionally substituted methylene (═CH₂), wherein for         all chiral centers, asymmetric groups may be found in either R         or S orientation.         wherein R¹, R², R³, R⁵ and R⁵* are independently selected from         the group consisting of: hydrogen, optionally substituted         C₁₋₆-alkyl, optionally substituted C₂₋₆-alkenyl, optionally         substituted C₂₋₆-alkynyl, hydroxy, C₁₋₆-alkoxy,         C₂₋₆-alkoxyalkyl, C₂₋₆-alkenyloxy, carboxy, C₁₋₆-alkoxycarbonyl,         C₁₋₆-alkylcarbonyl, formyl, aryl, aryloxy-carbonyl, aryloxy,         arylcarbonyl, heteroaryl, heteroaryloxy-carbonyl, heteroaryloxy,         heteroarylcarbonyl, amino, mono- and di(C₁₋₆-alkyl)amino,         carbamoyl, mono- and di(C₁₋₆-alkyl)-amino-carbonyl,         amino-C₁₋₆-alkyl-aminocarbonyl, mono- and         di(C₁₋₆-alkyl)amino-C₁₋₆-alkyl-aminocarbonyl,         C₁₋₆-alkyl-carbonylamino, carbamido, C₁₋₆-alkanoyloxy, sulphono,         C₁₋₆-alkylsulphonyloxy, nitro, azido, sulphanyl, C₁₋₆-alkylthio,         halogen, where aryl and heteroaryl may be optionally         substituted, and where two geminal substituents together may         designate oxo, thioxo, imino, or optionally substituted         methylene.     -   In some embodiments R¹, R², R³, R⁵ and R⁵* are independently         selected from C₁₋₆ alkyl, such as methyl, and hydrogen.     -   In some embodiments R¹, R², R³, R⁵ and R⁵* are all hydrogen.     -   In some embodiments R¹, R², R³, are all hydrogen, and either R⁵         and R⁵* is also hydrogen and the other of R⁵ and R⁵* is other         than hydrogen, such as C₁₋₆ alkyl such as methyl.     -   In some embodiments, R^(a) is either hydrogen or methyl. In some         embodiments, when present, R^(b) is either hydrogen or methyl.     -   In some embodiments, one or both of R^(a) and R^(b) is hydrogen     -   In some embodiments, one of R^(a) and R^(b) is hydrogen and the         other is other than hydrogen     -   In some embodiments, one of R^(a) and R^(b) is methyl and the         other is hydrogen     -   In some embodiments, both of R^(a) and R^(b) are methyl.

In some embodiments, the biradicle —X—Y— is —O—CH₂—, W is O, and all of R¹, R², R³, R⁵ and R⁵* are all hydrogen. Such LNA nucleosides are disclosed in WO99/014226, WO00/66604, WO98/039352 and WO2004/046160 which are all hereby incorporated by reference, and include what are commonly known as beta-D-oxy LNA and alpha-L-oxy LNA nucleosides.

In some embodiments, the biradicle —X—Y— is —S—CH₂—, W is O, and all of R¹, R², R³, R⁵ and R⁵* are all hydrogen. Such thio LNA nucleosides are disclosed in WO99/014226 and WO2004/046160 which are hereby incorporated by reference.

In some embodiments, the biradicle —X—Y— is —NH—CH₂—, W is O, and all of R¹, R², R³, R⁵ and R⁵* are all hydrogen. Such amino LNA nucleosides are disclosed in WO99/014226 and WO2004/046160 which are hereby incorporated by reference.

In some embodiments, the biradicle —X—Y— is —O—CH₂—CH₂— or —O—CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—, W is O, and all of R¹, R², R³, R⁵ and R⁵* are all hydrogen. Such LNA nucleosides are disclosed in WO00/047599 and Morita et al, Bioorganic & Med. Chem. Lett. 12 73-76, which are hereby incorporated by reference, and include what are commonly known as 2′-O-4′C-ethylene bridged nucleic acids (ENA).

In some embodiments, the biradicle —X—Y— is —O—CH₂—, W is O, and all of R¹, R², R³, and one of R⁵ and R⁵* are hydrogen, and the other of R⁵ and R⁵* is other than hydrogen such as C₁₋₆ alkyl, such as methyl. Such 5′ substituted LNA nucleosides are disclosed in WO2007/134181 which is hereby incorporated by reference.

In some embodiments, the biradicle —X—Y— is —O—CR^(a)R^(b)—, wherein one or both of R^(a) and R^(b) are other than hydrogen, such as methyl, W is O, and all of R¹, R², R³, and one of R⁵ and R⁵* are hydrogen, and the other of R⁵ and R⁵* is other than hydrogen such as C₁₋₆ alkyl, such as methyl. Such bis modified LNA nucleosides are disclosed in WO2010/077578 which is hereby incorporated by reference.

In some embodiments, the biradicle —X—Y— designate the bivalent linker group —O—CH(CH₂OCH₃)— (2′ O-methoxyethyl bicyclic nucleic acid—Seth at al., 2010, J. Org. Chem. Vol 75(5) pp. 1569-81). In some embodiments, the biradicle —X—Y— designate the bivalent linker group —O—CH(CH₂CH₃)— (2′O-ethyl bicyclic nucleic acid—Seth at al., 2010, J. Org. Chem. Vol 75(5) pp. 1569-81). In some embodiments, the biradicle —X—Y— is —O—CHR^(a)—, W is O, and all of R¹, R², R³, R⁵ and R⁵* are all hydrogen. Such 6′ substituted LNA nucleosides are disclosed in WO10036698 and WO07090071 which are both hereby incorporated by reference.

In some embodiments, the biradicle —X—Y— is —O—CH(CH₂OCH₃)—, W is O, and all of R¹, R², R³, R⁵ and R⁵* are all hydrogen. Such LNA nucleosides are also known as cyclic MOEs in the art (cMOE) and are disclosed in WO07090071.

In some embodiments, the biradicle —X—Y— designate the bivalent linker group —O—CH(CH₃)—. —in either the R- or S-configuration. In some embodiments, the biradicle —X—Y— together designate the bivalent linker group —O—CH₂—O—CH₂— (Seth at al., 2010, J. Org. Chem). In some embodiments, the biradicle —X—Y— is —O—CH(CH₃)—, W is O, and all of R¹, R², R³, R⁵ and R⁵* are all hydrogen. Such 6′ methyl LNA nucleosides are also known as cET nucleosides in the art, and may be either (S)cET or (R)cET stereoisomers, as disclosed in WO07090071 (beta-D) and WO2010/036698 (alpha-L) which are both hereby incorporated by reference).

In some embodiments, the biradicle —X—Y— is —O—CR^(a)R^(b)—, wherein in neither R^(a) or R^(b) is hydrogen, W is O, and all of R¹, R², R³, R⁵ and R⁵* are all hydrogen. In some embodiments, R^(a) and R^(b) are both methyl. Such 6′ di-substituted LNA nucleosides are disclosed in WO 2009006478 which is hereby incorporated by reference.

In some embodiments, the biradicle —X—Y— is —S—CHR^(a)—, W is O, and all of R¹, R², R³, R⁵ and R⁵* are all hydrogen. Such 6′ substituted thio LNA nucleosides are disclosed in WO11156202 which is hereby incorporated by reference. In some 6′ substituted thio LNA embodiments R^(a) is methyl.

In some embodiments, the biradicle —X—Y— is —C(═CH2)-C(R^(a)R^(b))—, such as —C(═CH₂)—CH₂—, or —C(═CH₂)—CH(CH₃)—W is O, and all of R¹, R², R³, R⁵ and R⁵* are all hydrogen. Such vinyl carbo LNA nucleosides are disclosed in WO08154401 and WO09067647 which are both hereby incorporated by reference.

In some embodiments the biradicle —X—Y— is —N(—OR^(a))—, W is O, and all of R¹, R², R³, R⁵ and R⁵* are all hydrogen. In some embodiments R^(a) is C₁₋₆ alkyl such as methyl. Such LNA nucleosides are also known as N substituted LNAs and are disclosed in WO2008/150729, which is hereby incorporated by reference. In some embodiments, the biradicle —X—Y— together designate the bivalent linker group —O—NR^(a)—CH₃— (Seth at al., 2010, J. Org. Chem). In some embodiments the biradicle —X—Y— is —N(R^(a))—, W is O, and all of R¹, R², R³, R⁵ and R⁵* are all hydrogen. In some embodiments R^(a) is C₁₋₆ alkyl such as methyl.

In some embodiments, one or both of R⁵ and R⁵* is hydrogen and, when substituted the other of R⁵ and R⁵* is C₁₋₆ alkyl such as methyl. In such an embodiment, R¹, R², R³, may all be hydrogen, and the biradicle —X—Y— may be selected from —O—CH2- or —O—C(HCR^(a))—, such as —O—C(HCH3)-.

In some embodiments, the biradicle is —CR^(a)R^(b)—O—CR^(a)R^(b)—, such as CH₂—O—CH₂—, W is O and all of R¹, R², R³, R⁵ and R⁵* are all hydrogen. In some embodiments R^(a) is C₁₋₆ alkyl such as methyl. Such LNA nucleosides are also known as conformationally restricted nucleotides (CRNs) and are disclosed in WO2013036868 which is hereby incorporated by reference.

In some embodiments, the biradicle is —O—CR^(a)R^(b)—O—CR^(a)R^(b)—, such as O—CH₂—O—CH₂—, W is O and all of R¹, R², R³, R⁵ and R⁵* are all hydrogen. In some embodiments R^(a) is C₁₋₆ alkyl such as methyl. Such LNA nucleosides are also known as COC nucleotides and are disclosed in Mitsuoka et al., Nucleic Acids Research 2009 37(4), 1225-1238, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

It will be recognized than, unless specified, the LNA nucleosides may be in the beta-D or alpha-L stereoisoform.

Certain examples of LNA nucleosides are presented in Scheme 1.

As illustrated in the examples, in some embodiments of the invention the LNA nucleosides in the oligonucleotides are beta-D-oxy-LNA nucleosides.

Nuclease Mediated Degradation

Nuclease mediated degradation refers to an oligonucleotide capable of mediating degradation of a complementary nucleotide sequence when forming a duplex with such a sequence.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide may function via nuclease mediated degradation of the target nucleic acid, where the oligonucleotides of the invention are capable of recruiting a nuclease, particularly and endonuclease, preferably endoribonuclease (RNase), such as RNase H. Examples of oligonucleotide designs which operate via nuclease mediated mechanisms are oligonucleotides which typically comprise a region of at least 5 or 6 DNA nucleosides and are flanked on one side or both sides by affinity enhancing nucleosides, for example gapmers, headmers and tailmers.

RNase H Activity and Recruitment

The RNase H activity of an antisense oligonucleotide refers to its ability to recruit RNase H when in a duplex with a complementary RNA molecule. WO01/23613 provides in vitro methods for determining RNaseH activity, which may be used to determine the ability to recruit RNaseH. Typically an oligonucleotide is deemed capable of recruiting RNase H if it, when provided with a complementary target nucleic acid sequence, has an initial rate, as measured in pmol/l/min, of at least 5%, such as at least 10% or more than 20% of the of the initial rate determined when using a oligonucleotide having the same base sequence as the modified oligonucleotide being tested, but containing only DNA monomers with phosphorothioate linkages between all monomers in the oligonucleotide, and using the methodology provided by Example 91-95 of WO01/23613 (hereby incorporated by reference).

Gapmer

The term gapmer as used herein refers to an antisense oligonucleotide which comprises a region of RNase H recruiting oligonucleotides (gap) which is flanked 5′ and 3′ by regions which comprise one or more affinity enhancing modified nucleosides (flanks or wings). Various gapmer designs are described herein and a characterized by their ability to recruit RNaseH. Headmers and tailmers are oligonucleotides capable of recruiting RNase H where one of the flanks is missing, i.e. only one of the ends of the oligonucleotide comprises affinity enhancing modified nucleosides. For headmers the 3′ flank is missing (i.e. the 5′ flank comprises affinity enhancing modified nucleosides) and for tailmers the 5′ flank is missing (i.e. the 3′ flank comprises affinity enhancing modified nucleosides).

LNA Gapmer

The term LNA gapmer is a gapmer oligonucleotide wherein at least one of the affinity enhancing modified nucleosides is an LNA nucleoside.

Mixed Wing Gapmer

The term mixed wing gapmer or mixed flank gapmer refers to a LNA gapmer wherein at least one of the flank regions comprise at least one LNA nucleoside and at least one non-LNA modified nucleoside, such as at least one 2′ substituted modified nucleoside, such as, for example, 2′-O-alkyl-RNA, 2′-O-methyl-RNA, 2′-alkoxy-RNA, 2′-O-methoxyethyl-RNA (MOE), 2′-amino-DNA, 2′-Fluoro-RNA and 2′-F-ANA nucleoside(s). In some embodiments the mixed wing gapmer has one flank which comprises only LNA nucleosides (e.g. 5′ or 3′) and the other flank (3′ or 5′ respectfully) comprises 2′ substituted modified nucleoside(s) and optionally LNA nucleosides.

Gapbreaker

The term “gapbreaker oligonucleotide” is used in relation to a gapmer capable of maintaining RNAseH recruitment even though the gap region is disrupted by a non-RNaseH recruiting nucleoside (a gap-breaker nucleoside, E) such that the gap region comprise less than 5 consecutive DNA nucleosides. Non-RNaseH recruiting nucleosides are for example nucleosides in the 3′ endo conformation, such as LNA's where the bridge between C2′ and C4′ of the ribose sugar ring of a nucleoside is in the beta conformation, such as beta-D-oxy LNA or ScET nucleoside. The ability of gapbreaker oligonucleotide to recruit RNaseH is typically sequence or even compound specific—see Rukov et al. 2015 Nucl. Acids Res. Vol. 43 pp. 8476-8487, which discloses “gapbreaker” oligonucleotides which recruit RNaseH which in some instances provide a more specific cleavage of the target RNA.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide of the invention is a gapbreaker oligonucleotide. In some embodiments the gapbreaker oligonucleotide comprise a 5′-flank (F), a gap (G) and a 3′-flank (F′), wherein the gap is disrupted by a non-RNaseH recruiting nucleoside (a gap-breaker nucleoside, E) such that the gap contain at least 3 or 4 consecutive DNA nucleosides. In some embodiments the gapbreaker nucleoside (E) is an LNA nucleoside where the bridge between C2′ and C4′ of the ribose sugar ring of a nucleoside is in the beta conformation and is placed within the gap region such that the gap-breaker LNA nucleoside is flanked 5′ and 3′ by at least 3 (5′) and 3 (3′) or at least 3 (5′) and 4 (3′) or at least 4(5′) and 3(3′) DNA nucleosides, and wherein the oligonucleotide is capable of recruiting RNaseH.

The gapbreaker oligonucleotide can be represented by the following formulae:

F-G-E-G-F′; in particular F₁₋₇-G₃₋₄-E₁-G₃₋₄-F′₁₋₇

D′-F-G-F′, in particular D′₁₋₃-F₁₋₇-G₃₋₄-E₁-G₃₋₄-F′₁₋₇

F-G-F′-D″, in particular F₁₋₇-G₃₋₄-E₁-G₃₋₄-F′₁₋₇-D″₁₋₃

D′-F-G-F′-D″, in particular D′₁₋₃-F₁₋₇-G₃₋₄-E₁-G₃₋₄-F′₁₋₇-D″₁₋₃

Where region D′ and D″ are as described in the section “Gapmer design”.

In some embodiments the gapbreaker nucleoside (E) is a beta-D-oxy LNA or ScET or another beta-LNA nucleosides shown in Scheme 1).

Conjugate

The term conjugate as used herein refers to an oligonucleotide which is covalently linked to a non-nucleotide moiety (conjugate moiety or region C or third region), also termed a oligonucleotide conjugate.

Conjugation of the oligonucleotides of the invention to one or more non-nucleotide moieties may improve the pharmacology of the oligonucleotide, e.g. by affecting the activity, cellular distribution, cellular uptake or stability of the oligonucleotide. In some embodiments the conjugate moiety targets the oligonucleotide to the liver. A the same time the conjugate serve to reduce activity of the oligonucleotide in non-target cell types, tissues or organs, e.g. off target activity or activity in non-target cell types, tissues or organs. In one embodiment of the invention the oligonucleotide conjugate of the invention display improved inhibition of PD-L1 in the target cell when compared to an unconjugated oligonucleotide. In another embodiment the oligonucleotide conjugate of the invention has improved cellular distribution between liver and other organs, such as spleen or kidney (i.e. more conjugated oligonucleotide goes to the liver than the spleen or kidney) when compared to an unconjugated oligonucleotide. In another embodiment the oligonucleotide conjugate of the invention show improved cellular uptake into the liver of the conjugate oligonucleotide when compared to an unconjugated oligonucleotide.

WO 93/07883 and WO2013/033230 provides suitable conjugate moieties, which are hereby incorporated by reference. Further suitable conjugate moieties are those capable of binding to the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPr). In particular tri-valent N-acetylgalactosamine conjugate moieties are suitable for binding to the ASGPr, see for example WO 2014/076196, WO 2014/207232 and WO 2014/179620 (hereby incorporated by reference). The conjugate moiety is essentially the part of the antisense oligonucleotides conjugates which is not composed of nucleic acids.

Oligonucleotide conjugates and their synthesis has also been reported in comprehensive reviews by Manoharan in Antisense Drug Technology, Principles, Strategies, and Applications, S. T. Crooke, ed., Ch. 16, Marcel Dekker, Inc., 2001 and Manoharan, Antisense and Nucleic Acid Drug Development, 2002, 12, 103, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In an embodiment, the non-nucleotide moiety (conjugate moiety) is selected from the group consisting of carbohydrates, cell surface receptor ligands, drug substances, hormones, lipophilic substances, polymers, proteins, peptides, toxins (e.g. bacterial toxins), vitamins, viral proteins (e.g. capsids) or combinations thereof.

Linkers

A linkage or linker is a connection between two atoms that links one chemical group or segment of interest to another chemical group or segment of interest via one or more covalent bonds. Conjugate moieties can be attached to the oligonucleotide directly or through a linking moiety (e.g. linker or tether). Linkers serve to covalently connect a third region, e.g. a conjugate moiety (Region C), to a first region, e.g. an oligonucleotide or contiguous nucleotide sequence complementary to the target nucleic acid (region A).

In some embodiments of the invention the conjugate or oligonucleotide conjugate of the invention may optionally, comprise a linker region (second region or region B and/or region Y) which is positioned between the oligonucleotide or contiguous nucleotide sequence complementary to the target nucleic acid (region A or first region) and the conjugate moiety (region C or third region).

Region B refers to biocleavable linkers comprising or consisting of a physiologically labile bond that is cleavable under conditions normally encountered or analogous to those encountered within a mammalian body. Conditions under which physiologically labile linkers undergo chemical transformation (e.g., cleavage) include chemical conditions such as pH, temperature, oxidative or reductive conditions or agents, and salt concentration found in or analogous to those encountered in mammalian cells. Mammalian intracellular conditions also include the presence of enzymatic activity normally present in a mammalian cell such as from proteolytic enzymes or hydrolytic enzymes or nucleases. In one embodiment the biocleavable linker is susceptible to S1 nuclease cleavage. In a preferred embodiment the nuclease susceptible linker comprises between 1 and 10 nucleosides, such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 nucleosides, more preferably between 2 and 6 nucleosides and most preferably between 2 and 4 linked nucleosides comprising at least two consecutive phosphodiester linkages, such as at least 3 or 4 or 5 consecutive phosphodiester linkages. Preferably the nucleosides are DNA or RNA. Phosphodiester containing biocleavable linkers are described in more detail in WO 2014/076195 (hereby incorporated by reference).

Region Y refers to linkers that are not necessarily biocleavable but primarily serve to covalently connect a conjugate moiety (region C or third region), to an oligonucleotide or contiguous nucleotide sequence complementary to the target nucleic acid (region A or first region). The region Y linkers may comprise a chain structure or an oligomer of repeating units such as ethylene glycol, amino acid units or amino alkyl groups The oligonucleotide conjugates of the present invention can be constructed of the following regional elements A-C, A-B-C, A-B-Y-C, A-Y-B-C or A-Y-C. In some embodiments the linker (region Y) is an amino alkyl, such as a C2-C36 amino alkyl group, including, for example C6 to C12 amino alkyl groups. In a preferred embodiment the linker (region Y) is a C6 amino alkyl group.

Treatment

The term ‘treatment’ as used herein refers to both treatment of an existing disease (e.g. a disease or disorder as herein referred to), or prevention of a disease, i.e. prophylaxis. It will therefore be recognized that treatment as referred to herein may, in some embodiments, be prophylactic.

Restoration of Immune Response Against Pathogens

The immune response is divided into the innate and adaptive immune response. The innate immune system provides an immediate, but non-specific response. The adaptive immune response is activated by innate immune response and is highly specific to a particular pathogen. Upon presentation of a pathogen-derived antigen on the surface of antigen-presenting cells, immune cells of the adaptive immune response (i.e. T and B lymphocytes) are activated through their antigen-specific receptors leading to a pathogenic-specific immune response and development of immunological memory. Chronic viral infections, such as HBV and HCV, are associated with T cell exhaustion characterized by unresponsiveness of the viral-specific T cells. T cell exhaustion is well studied, for a review see for example Yi et al 2010 Immunology 129, 474-481. Chronic viral infections are also associated with reduced function of NK cells that are innate immune cells. Enhancing viral immune response is important for clearance of chronic infection. Restoration of immune response against pathogens, mediated by T cells and NK cells, can be assessed by measurement of proliferation, cytokine secretion and cytolytic function (Dolina et al. 2013 Molecular Therapy-Nucleic Acids, 2 e72 and Example 6 herein).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the use of antisense oligonucleotides and conjugates thereof and pharmaceutical compositions comprising these to restore immune response against pathogens that have infected an animal, in particular a human. The antisense oligonucleotide conjugates of the present invention are particular useful against pathogens that have infected the liver, in particular chronic liver infections like HBV. The conjugates allow targeted distribution of the oligonucleotides and prevents systemic knockdown of the target nucleic acid.

The Oligonucleotides of the Invention

The invention relates to oligonucleotides capable of modulating expression of PD-L1. The modulation is may achieved by hybridizing to a target nucleic acid encoding PD-L1 or which is involved in the regulation of PD-L1. The target nucleic acid may be a mammalian PD-L1 sequence, such as a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2 and/or SEQ ID NO: 3. The target nucleic acid may be a pre-mRNA, an mRNA or any RNA sequence expressed from a mammalian cell that supports the expression or regulation of PD-L1.

The oligonucleotide of the invention is an antisense oligonucleotide which targets PD-L1.

In one aspect of the invention the oligonucleotides of the invention are conjugated to a conjugate moiety, in particular an asialoglycoprotein receptor targeting conjugate moiety.

In some embodiments the antisense oligonucleotide of the invention is capable of modulating the expression of the target by inhibiting or down-regulating it. Preferably, such modulation produces an inhibition of expression of at least 20% compared to the normal expression level of the target, more preferably at least 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, or 90% inhibition compared to the normal expression level of the target. Preferably, such modulation produces an inhibition of expression of at least 20% compared to the expression level when the cell or organism is challenged by an infectious agent, or treated with an agent simulating the challenge by an infectious agent (eg poly I:C or LPS), more preferably at least 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, or 90% inhibition compared to the expression level when the cell or organism is challenged by an infectious agent, or treated with an agent simulating the challenge by an infectious agent (eg poly I:C or LPS). In some embodiments oligonucleotides of the invention may be capable of inhibiting expression levels of PD-L1 mRNA by at least 60% or 70% in vitro using KARPAS-299 or THP1 cells. In some embodiments compounds of the invention may be capable of inhibiting expression levels of PD-L1 protein by at least 50% in vitro using KARPAS-299 or THP1 cells. Suitably, the examples provide assays which may be used to measure PD-L1 RNA (e.g. example 1). The target modulation is triggered by the hybridization between a contiguous nucleotide sequence of the oligonucleotide and the target nucleic acid. In some embodiments the oligonucleotide of the invention comprises mismatches between the oligonucleotide and the target nucleic acid. Despite mismatches, hybridization to the target nucleic acid may still be sufficient to show a desired modulation of PD-L1 expression. Reduced binding affinity resulting from mismatches may advantageously be compensated by increased number of nucleotides in the oligonucleotide and/or an increased number of modified nucleosides capable of increasing the binding affinity to the target, such as 2′ modified nucleosides, including LNA, present within the oligonucleotide sequence.

In some embodiments the antisense oligonucleotide of the invention is capable of restoring pathogen-specific T cells. In some embodiments, oligonucleotides of the invention are capable of increasing the pathogen-specific T cells by at least 40%, 50%, 60% or 70% when compared to untreated controls or controls treated with standard of care. In one embodiment the antisense oligonucleotide or conjugate of the invention is capable increasing HBV-specific T cells when compared to untreated controls or controls treated with standard of care. Suitably, the examples provide assays which may be used to measure the HBV-specific T cells (e.g. T cell proliferation, cytokine secretion and cytolytic activity). In another embodiment the antisense oligonucleotide or conjugate of the invention is capable increasing HCV-specific T cells when compared to untreated controls or controls treated with standard of care. In another embodiment the antisense oligonucleotide or conjugate of the invention is capable increasing HDV-specific T cells when compared to untreated controls or controls treated with standard of care.

In some embodiments the antisense oligonucleotide of the invention is capable reducing HBsAg levels in an animal or human. In some embodiments, oligonucleotides of the invention are capable of reducing the HBsAg levels by at least 40%, 50%, 60% or 70%, more preferably by at least 80%, 90% or 95% when compared to the level prior to treatment. Most preferably oligonucleotides of the invention are capable of achieving seroconversion of HBsAg in an animal or human infected with HBV.

An aspect of the present invention relates to an antisense oligonucleotide which comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence of 10 to 30 nucleotides in length with at least 90% complementarity to a PD-L1 target nucleic acid.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide comprises a contiguous sequence which is at least 90% complementary, such as at least 91%, such as at least 92%, such as at least 93%, such as at least 94%, such as at least 95%, such as at least 96%, such as at least 97%, such as at least 98%, or 100% complementary with a region of the target nucleic acid.

In a preferred embodiment the oligonucleotide of the invention, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof is fully complementary (100% complementary) to a region of the target nucleic acid, or in some embodiments may comprise one or two mismatches between the oligonucleotide and the target nucleic acid.

In some embodiments the oligonucleotide comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence of 10 to 30 nucleotides in length with at least 90% complementary, such as fully (or 100%) complementary, to a region target nucleic acid region present in SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2. In some embodiments the oligonucleotide sequence is 100% complementary to a corresponding target nucleic acid region present SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2. In some embodiments the oligonucleotide sequence is 100% complementary to a corresponding target nucleic acid region present SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 3.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide or oligonucleotide conjugate comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence of 10 to 30 nucleotides in length with at least 90% complementary, such as 100% complementarity, to a corresponding target nucleic acid region wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence is complementary to a sub-sequence of the target nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of position 371-3068, 5467-12107 and 15317-19511 on SEQ ID NO: 1. In a further embodiment the sub-sequence of the target nucleic acid is selected from the group consisting of position 371-510, 822-1090, 1992-3068, 5467-5606, 6470-12107, 15317-15720, 15317-18083, 18881-19494 and 1881-19494 on SEQ ID NO: 1. In a preferred embodiment the sub-sequence of the target nucleic acid is selected from the group consisting of position 7300-7333, 8028-8072, 9812-9859, 11787-11873 and 15690-15735 on SEQ ID NO: 1.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide or oligonucleotide conjugate comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence of 10 to 30 nucleotides in length with at least 90% complementary, such as 100% complementarity, to a corresponding target nucleic acid region present in SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the target nucleic acid region is selected from the group consisting of region a1 to a449 in table 4.

TABLE 4 Regions of SEQ ID NO 1 which may be targeted using oligonucleotide of the invention Position in SEQ ID NO 1 Reg. a from to Length a1 51 82 32 a2 87 116 30 a3 118 133 16 a4 173 206 34 a5 221 287 67 a6 304 350 47 a7 354 387 34 a8 389 423 35 a9 425 440 16 a10 452 468 17 a11 470 484 15 a12 486 500 15 a13 503 529 27 a14 540 574 35 a15 576 649 74 a16 652 698 47 a17 700 750 51 a18 744 758 15 a19 774 801 28 a20 805 820 16 a21 827 891 65 a22 915 943 29 a23 950 982 33 a24 984 1000 17 a25 1002 1054 53 a26 1060 1118 59 a27 1124 1205 82 a28 1207 1255 49 a29 1334 1349 16 a30 1399 1425 27 a31 1437 1458 22 a32 1460 1504 45 a33 1548 1567 20 a34 1569 1586 18 a35 1608 1662 55 a36 1677 1700 24 a37 1702 1721 20 a38 1723 1745 23 a39 1768 1794 27 a40 1820 1835 16 a41 1842 1874 33 a42 1889 1979 91 a43 1991 2011 21 a44 2013 2038 26 a45 2044 2073 30 a46 2075 2155 81 a47 2205 2228 24 a48 2253 2273 21 a49 2275 2303 29 a50 2302 2333 32 a51 2335 2366 32 a52 2368 2392 25 a53 2394 2431 38 a54 2441 2455 15 a55 2457 2494 38 a56 2531 2579 49 a57 2711 2732 22 a58 2734 2757 24 a59 2772 2786 15 a60 2788 2819 32 a61 2835 2851 17 a62 2851 2879 29 a63 2896 2912 17 a64 2915 2940 26 a65 2944 2973 30 a66 2973 2992 20 a67 2998 3016 19 a68 3018 3033 16 a69 3036 3051 16 a70 3114 3139 26 a71 3152 3173 22 a72 3181 3203 23 a73 3250 3271 22 a74 3305 3335 31 a75 3346 3363 18 a76 3391 3446 56 a77 3448 3470 23 a78 3479 3497 19 a79 3538 3554 17 a80 3576 3597 22 a81 3603 3639 37 a82 3663 3679 17 a83 3727 3812 86 a84 3843 3869 27 a85 3874 3904 31 a86 3926 3955 30 a87 3974 3993 20 a88 3995 4042 48 a89 4053 4073 21 a90 4075 4123 49 a91 4133 4157 25 a92 4158 4188 31 a93 4218 4250 33 a94 4277 4336 60 a95 4353 4375 23 a96 4383 4398 16 a97 4405 4446 42 a98 4448 4464 17 a99 4466 4493 28 a100 4495 4558 64 a101 4571 4613 43 a102 4624 4683 60 a103 4743 4759 17 a104 4761 4785 25 a105 4811 4858 48 a106 4873 4932 60 a107 4934 4948 15 a108 4955 4974 20 a109 4979 5010 32 a110 5012 5052 41 a111 5055 5115 61 a112 5138 5166 29 a113 5168 5198 31 a114 5200 5222 23 a115 5224 5284 61 a116 5286 5302 17 a117 5317 5332 16 a118 5349 5436 88 a119 5460 5512 53 a120 5514 5534 21 a121 5548 5563 16 a122 5565 5579 15 a123 5581 5597 17 a124 5600 5639 40 a125 5644 5661 18 a126 5663 5735 73 a127 5737 5770 34 a128 5778 5801 24 a129 5852 5958 107 a130 6007 6041 35 a131 6049 6063 15 a132 6065 6084 20 a133 6086 6101 16 a134 6119 6186 68 a135 6189 6234 46 a136 6236 6278 43 a137 6291 6312 22 a138 6314 6373 60 a139 6404 6447 44 a140 6449 6482 34 a141 6533 6555 23 a142 6562 6622 61 a143 6624 6674 51 a144 6679 6762 84 a145 6764 6780 17 a146 6782 6822 41 a147 6824 6856 33 a148 6858 6898 41 a149 6906 6954 49 a150 6969 6992 24 a151 6994 7020 27 a152 7033 7048 16 a153 7050 7066 17 a154 7078 7094 17 a155 7106 7122 17 a156 7123 7144 22 a157 7146 7166 21 a158 7173 7193 21 a159 7233 7291 59 a160 7300 7333 34 a161 7336 7351 16 a162 7353 7373 21 a163 7375 7412 38 a164 7414 7429 16 a165 7431 7451 21 a166 7453 7472 20 a167 7474 7497 24 a168 7517 7532 16 a169 7547 7601 55 a170 7603 7617 15 a171 7632 7647 16 a172 7649 7666 18 a173 7668 7729 62 a174 7731 7764 34 a175 7767 7817 51 a176 7838 7860 23 a177 7862 7876 15 a178 7880 7944 65 a179 7964 8012 49 a180 8028 8072 45 a181 8086 8100 15 a182 8102 8123 22 a183 8125 8149 25 a184 8151 8199 49 a185 8218 8235 18 a186 8237 8276 40 a187 8299 8344 46 a188 8346 8436 91 a189 8438 8470 33 a190 8472 8499 28 a191 8505 8529 25 a192 8538 8559 22 a193 8562 8579 18 a194 8581 8685 105 a195 8688 8729 42 a196 8730 8751 22 a197 8777 8800 24 a198 8825 8865 41 a199 8862 8894 33 a200 8896 8911 16 a201 8938 8982 45 a202 8996 9045 50 a203 9048 9070 23 a204 9072 9139 68 a205 9150 9168 19 a206 9170 9186 17 a207 9188 9202 15 a208 9204 9236 33 a209 9252 9283 32 a210 9300 9331 32 a211 9339 9354 16 a212 9370 9398 29 a213 9400 9488 89 a214 9490 9537 48 a215 9611 9695 85 a216 9706 9721 16 a217 9723 9746 24 a218 9748 9765 18 a219 9767 9788 22 a220 9794 9808 15 a221 9812 9859 48 a222 9880 9913 34 a223 9923 9955 33 a224 9966 10007 42 a225 10009 10051 43 a226 10053 10088 36 a227 10098 10119 22 a228 10133 10163 31 a229 10214 10240 27 a230 10257 10272 16 a231 10281 10298 18 a232 10300 10318 19 a233 10339 10363 25 a234 10409 10426 18 a235 10447 10497 51 a236 10499 10529 31 a237 10531 10546 16 a238 10560 10580 21 a239 10582 10596 15 a240 10600 10621 22 a241 10623 10664 42 a242 10666 10685 20 a243 10717 10773 57 a244 10775 10792 18 a245 10794 10858 65 a246 10874 10888 15 a247 10893 10972 80 a248 10974 10994 21 a249 10996 11012 17 a250 11075 11097 23 a251 11099 11124 26 a252 11140 11157 18 a253 11159 11192 34 a254 11195 11226 32 a255 11235 11261 27 a256 11279 11337 59 a257 11344 11381 38 a258 11387 11411 25 a259 11427 11494 68 a260 11496 11510 15 a261 11512 11526 15 a262 11528 11551 24 a263 11570 11592 23 a264 11594 11634 41 a265 11664 11684 21 a266 11699 11719 21 a267 11721 11746 26 a268 11753 11771 19 a269 11787 11873 87 a270 11873 11905 33 a271 11927 11942 16 a272 11946 11973 28 a273 11975 11993 19 a274 12019 12114 96 a275 12116 12135 20 a276 12137 12158 22 a277 12165 12192 28 a278 12194 12216 23 a279 12218 12246 29 a280 12262 12277 16 a281 12283 12319 37 a282 12334 12368 35 a283 12370 12395 26 a284 12397 12434 38 a285 12436 12509 74 a286 12511 12543 33 a287 12545 12565 21 a288 12567 12675 109 a289 12677 12706 30 a290 12708 12724 17 a291 12753 12768 16 a292 12785 12809 25 a293 12830 12859 30 a294 12864 12885 22 a295 12886 12916 31 a296 12922 12946 25 a297 12948 12970 23 a298 12983 13003 21 a299 13018 13051 34 a300 13070 13090 21 a301 13092 13115 24 a302 13117 13134 18 a303 13136 13169 34 a304 13229 13249 21 a305 13295 13328 34 a306 13330 13372 43 a307 13388 13406 19 a308 13408 13426 19 a309 13437 13453 17 a310 13455 13471 17 a311 13518 13547 30 a312 13565 13597 33 a313 13603 13620 18 a314 13630 13663 34 a315 13665 13679 15 a316 13706 13725 20 a317 13727 13774 48 a318 13784 13821 38 a319 13831 13878 48 a320 13881 13940 60 a321 13959 14013 55 a322 14015 14031 17 a323 14034 14049 16 a324 14064 14114 51 a325 14116 14226 111 a326 14229 14276 48 a327 14292 14306 15 a328 14313 14384 72 a329 14386 14408 23 a330 14462 14481 20 a331 14494 14519 26 a332 14557 14577 21 a333 14608 14628 21 a334 14646 14668 23 a335 14680 14767 88 a336 14765 14779 15 a337 14815 14844 30 a338 14848 14925 78 a339 14934 14976 43 a340 14978 15009 32 a341 15013 15057 45 a342 15064 15091 28 a343 15094 15140 47 a344 15149 15165 17 a345 15162 15182 21 a346 15184 15198 15 a347 15200 15221 22 a348 15232 15247 16 a349 15250 15271 22 a350 15290 15334 45 a351 15336 15369 34 a352 15394 15416 23 a353 15433 15451 19 a354 15453 15491 39 a355 15496 15511 16 a356 15520 15553 34 a357 15555 15626 72 a358 15634 15652 19 a359 15655 15688 34 a360 15690 15735 46 a361 15734 15764 31 a362 15766 15787 22 a363 15803 15819 17 a364 15846 15899 54 a365 15901 15934 34 a366 15936 15962 27 a367 15964 15985 22 a368 15987 16023 37 a369 16025 16061 37 a370 16102 16122 21 a371 16134 16183 50 a372 16185 16281 97 a373 16283 16298 16 a374 16305 16323 19 a375 16325 16356 32 a376 16362 16404 43 a377 16406 16456 51 a378 16494 16523 30 a379 16536 16562 27 a380 16564 16580 17 a381 16582 16637 56 a382 16631 16649 19 a383 16655 16701 47 a384 16737 16781 45 a385 16783 16804 22 a386 16832 16907 76 a387 16934 16965 32 a388 16972 17035 64 a389 17039 17069 31 a390 17072 17109 38 a391 17135 17150 16 a392 17167 17209 43 a393 17211 17242 32 a394 17244 17299 56 a395 17304 17344 41 a396 17346 17400 55 a397 17447 17466 20 a398 17474 17539 66 a399 17561 17604 44 a400 17610 17663 54 a401 17681 17763 83 a402 17793 17810 18 a403 17812 17852 41 a404 17854 17928 75 a405 17941 18005 65 a406 18007 18035 29 a407 18041 18077 37 a408 18085 18146 62 a409 18163 18177 15 a410 18179 18207 29 a411 18209 18228 20 a412 18230 18266 37 a413 18268 18285 18 a414 18287 18351 65 a415 18365 18395 31 a416 18402 18432 31 a417 18434 18456 23 a418 18502 18530 29 a419 18545 18590 46 a420 18603 18621 19 a421 18623 18645 23 a422 18651 18708 58 a423 18710 18729 20 a424 18731 18758 28 a425 18760 18788 29 a426 18799 18859 61 a427 18861 18926 66 a428 18928 18980 53 a429 19001 19018 18 a430 19034 19054 21 a431 19070 19092 23 a432 19111 19154 44 a433 19191 19213 23 a434 19215 19240 26 a435 19255 19356 102 a436 19358 19446 89 a437 19450 19468 19 a438 19470 19512 43 a439 19514 19541 28 a440 19543 19568 26 a441 19570 19586 17 a442 19588 19619 32 a443 19683 19739 57 a444 19741 19777 37 a445 19779 19820 42 a446 19822 19836 15 a447 19838 19911 74 a448 19913 19966 54 a449 19968 20026 59

In some embodiment the oligonucleotide or contiguous nucleotide sequence is complementary to a region of the target nucleic acid, wherein the target nucleic acid region is selected from the group consisting of a7, a26, a43, a119, a142, a159, a160, a163, a169, a178, a179, a180, a189, a201, a202, a204, a214, a221, a224, a226, a243, a254, a258, 269, a274, a350, a360, a364, a365, a370, a372, a381, a383, a386, a389, a400, a427, a435 and a438.

In a preferred embodiment the oligonucleotide or contiguous nucleotide sequence is complementary to a region of the target nucleic acid, wherein the target nucleic acid region is selected from the group consisting of a160, a180, a221, a269 and a360.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide of the invention comprises or consists of 8 to 35 nucleotides in length, such as from 9 to 30, such as 10 to 22, such as from 11 to 20, such as from 12 to 18, such as from 13 to 17 or 14 to 16 contiguous nucleotides in length. In a preferred embodiment, the oligonucleotide comprises or consists of 16 to 20 nucleotides in length. It is to be understood that any range given herein includes the range endpoints. Accordingly, if an oligonucleotide is said to include from 10 to 30 nucleotides, both 10 and 30 nucleotides are included.

In some embodiments, the contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises or consists of 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 or 30 contiguous nucleotides in length. In a preferred embodiment, the oligonucleotide comprises or consists of 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20 nucleotides in length.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide or contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises or consists of a sequence selected from the group consisting of sequences listed in table 5.

In some embodiments, the antisense oligonucleotide or contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises or consists of 10 to 30 nucleotides in length with at least 90% identity, preferably 100% identity, to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 5 to 743 (see motif sequences listed in table 5).

In some embodiments, the antisense oligonucleotide or contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises or consists of 10 to 30 nucleotides in length with at least 90% identity, preferably 100% identity, to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 5 to 743 and 771.

In some embodiments, the antisense oligonucleotide or contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises or consists of 10 to 30 nucleotides in length with at least 90% identity, preferably 100% identity, to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 6, 8, 9, 13, 41, 42, 58, 77, 92, 111, 128, 151, 164, 166, 169, 171, 222, 233, 245, 246, 250, 251, 252, 256, 272, 273, 287, 292, 303, 314, 318, 320, 324, 336, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, 349, 359, 360, 374, 408, 409, 415, 417, 424, 429, 430, 458, 464, 466, 474, 490, 493, 512, 519, 519, 529, 533, 534, 547, 566, 567, 578, 582, 601, 619, 620, 636, 637, 638, 640, 645, 650, 651, 652, 653, 658, 659, 660, 665, 678, 679, 680, 682, 683, 684, 687, 694, 706, 716, 728, 733, 734, and 735.

In some embodiments, the antisense oligonucleotide or contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises or consists of 10 to 30 nucleotides in length with at least 90% identity, preferably 100% identity, to SEQ ID NO: 287.

In some embodiments, the antisense oligonucleotide or contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises or consists of 10 to 30 nucleotides in length with at least 90% identity, preferably 100% identity, to SEQ ID NO: 342.

In some embodiments, the antisense oligonucleotide or contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises or consists of 10 to 30 nucleotides in length with at least 90% identity, preferably 100% identity, to SEQ ID NO: 640.

In some embodiments, the antisense oligonucleotide or contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises or consists of 10 to 30 nucleotides in length with at least 90% identity, preferably 100% identity, to SEQ ID NO: 466.

In some embodiments, the antisense oligonucleotide or contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises or consists of 10 to 30 nucleotides in length with at least 90% identity, preferably 100% identity, to SEQ ID NO: 566.

In embodiments where the oligonucleotide is longer than the contigious nucleotide sequence (which is complementary to the target nucleic acid), the motif sequences in table 5 form the contigious nucleotide sequence part of the antisense oligonucleotides of the invention. In some embodiments the sequence of the oligonucleotide is equivalent to the contigious nucleotide sequence (e.g. if no biocleavable linkers are added).

It is understood that the contiguous nucleobase sequences (motif sequence) can be modified to for example increase nuclease resistance and/or binding affinity to the target nucleic acid. Modifications are described in the definitions and in the “Oligonucleotide design” section. Table 5 lists preferred designs of each motif sequence.

Oligonucleotide Design

Oligonucleotide design refers to the pattern of nucleoside sugar modifications in the oligonucleotide sequence. The oligonucleotides of the invention comprise sugar-modified nucleosides and may also comprise DNA or RNA nucleosides. In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide comprises sugar-modified nucleosides and DNA nucleosides. Incorporation of modified nucleosides into the oligonucleotide of the invention may enhance the affinity of the oligonucleotide for the target nucleic acid. In that case, the modified nucleosides can be referred to as affinity enhancing modified nucleotides, the modified nucleosides may also be termed units.

In an embodiment, the oligonucleotide comprises at least 1 modified nucleoside, such as at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 7, at least 8, at least 9, at least 10, at least 11, at least 12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15 or at least 16 modified nucleosides. In an embodiment the oligonucleotide comprises from 1 to 10 modified nucleosides, such as from 2 to 8 modified nucleosides, such as from 3 to 7 modified nucleosides, such as from 4 to 6 modified nucleosides, such as 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 modified nucleosides.

In an embodiment, the oligonucleotide comprises one or more sugar modified nucleosides, such as 2′ sugar modified nucleosides. Preferably the oligonucleotide of the invention comprise the one or more 2′ sugar modified nucleoside independently selected from the group consisting of 2′-O-alkyl-RNA, 2′-O-methyl-RNA, 2′-alkoxy-RNA, 2′-O-methoxyethyl-RNA, 2′-amino-DNA, 2′-fluoro-DNA, arabino nucleic acid (ANA), 2′-fluoro-ANA and LNA nucleosides. Even more preferably the one or more modified nucleoside is a locked nucleic acid (LNA).

In a further embodiment the oligonucleotide comprises at least one modified internucleoside linkage. In a preferred embodiment all the internucleoside linkages within the contiguous nucleotide sequence are phosphorothioate or boranophosphate internucleoside linkages. In some embodiments all the internucleotide linkages in the contiguous sequence of the oligonucleotide are phosphorothioate linkages.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide of the invention comprises at least one LNA nucleoside, such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 LNA nucleosides, such as from 2 to 6 LNA nucleosides, such as from 3 to 7 LNA nucleosides, 4 to 6 LNA nucleosides or 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 LNA nucleosides. In some embodiments, at least 75% of the modified nucleosides in the oligonucleotide are LNA nucleosides, such as 80%, such as 85%, such as 90% of the modified nucleosides are LNA nucleosides. In a still further embodiment all the modified nucleosides in the oligonucleotide are LNA nucleosides. In a further embodiment, the oligonucleotide may comprise both beta-D-oxy-LNA, and one or more of the following LNA nucleosides: thio-LNA, amino-LNA, oxy-LNA, and/or ENA in either the beta-D or alpha-L configurations or combinations thereof. In a further embodiment, all LNA cytosine units are 5-methyl-cytosine. In a preferred embodiment the oligonucleotide or contiguous nucleotide sequence has at least 1 LNA nucleoside at the 5′ end and at least 2 LNA nucleosides at the 3′ end of the nucleotide sequence.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide of the invention comprises at least one modified nucleoside which is a 2′-MOE-RNA nucleoside, such as 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 2′-MOE-RNA nucleosides. In some embodiments, at least one of said modified nucleoside is 2′-fluoro DNA, such as 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 2′-fluoro-DNA nucleosides.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide of the invention comprises at least one LNA nucleoside and at least one 2′ substituted modified nucleoside.

In some embodiments of the invention, the oligonucleotide comprise both 2′ sugar modified nucleosides and DNA units. Preferably the oligonucleotide comprises both LNA and DNA nucleosides (units). Preferably, the combined total of LNA and DNA units is 8-30, such as 10-25, preferably 12-22, such as 12-18, even more preferably 11-16. In some embodiments of the invention, the nucleotide sequence of the oligonucleotide, such as the contiguous nucleotide sequence consists of at least one or two LNA nucleosides and the remaining nucleosides are DNA units. In some embodiments the oligonucleotide comprises only LNA nucleosides and naturally occurring nucleosides (such as RNA or DNA, most preferably DNA nucleosides), optionally with modified internucleoside linkages such as phosphorothioate.

In an embodiment of the invention the oligonucleotide of the invention is capable of recruiting RNase H.

The structural design of the oligonucleotide of the invention may be selected from gapmers, gapbreakers, headmers and tailmers.

Gapmer Design

In a preferred embodiment the oligonucleotide of the invention has a gapmer design or structure also referred herein merely as “Gapmer”. In a gapmer structure the oligonucleotide comprises at least three distinct structural regions a 5′-flank, a gap and a 3′-flank, F-G-F′ in ‘5->3’ orientation. In this design, flanking regions F and F′ (also termed wing regions) comprise a contiguous stretch of modified nucleosides, which are complementary to the PD-L1 target nucleic acid, while the gap region, G, comprises a contiguous stretch of nucleotides which are capable of recruiting a nuclease, preferably an endonuclease such as RNase, for example RNase H, when the oligonucleotide is in duplex with the target nucleic acid. Nucleosides which are capable of recruiting a nuclease, in particular RNase H, can be selected from the group consisting of DNA, alpha-L-oxy-LNA, 2′-Flouro-ANA and UNA. Regions F and F′, flanking the 5′ and 3′ ends of region G, preferably comprise non-nuclease recruiting nucleosides (nucleosides with a 3′ endo structure), more preferably one or more affinity enhancing modified nucleosides. In some embodiments, the 3′ flank comprises at least one LNA nucleoside, preferably at least 2 LNA nucleosides. In some embodiments, the 5′ flank comprises at least one LNA nucleoside. In some embodiments both the 5′ and 3′ flanking regions comprise a LNA nucleoside. In some embodiments all the nucleosides in the flanking regions are LNA nucleosides. In other embodiments, the flanking regions may comprise both LNA nucleosides and other nucleosides (mixed flanks), such as DNA nucleosides and/or non-LNA modified nucleosides, such as 2′ substituted nucleosides. In this case the gap is defined as a contiguous sequence of at least 5 RNase H recruiting nucleosides (nucleosides with a 2′ endo structure, preferably DNA) flanked at the 5′ and 3′ end by an affinity enhancing modified nucleoside, preferably LNA, such as beta-D-oxy-LNA. Consequently, the nucleosides of the 5′ flanking region and the 3′ flanking region which are adjacent to the gap region are modified nucleosides, preferably non-nuclease recruiting nucleosides.

Region F

Region F (5′ flank or 5′ wing) attached to the ′5 end of region G comprises, contains or consists of at least one modified nucleoside such as at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 7 modified nucleosides. In an embodiment region F comprises or consists of from 1 to 7 modified nucleosides, such as from 2 to 6 modified nucleosides, such as from 2 to 5 modified nucleosides, such as from 2 to 4 modified nucleosides, such as from 1 to 3 modified nucleosides, such as 1, 2, 3 or 4 modified nucleosides. The F region is defined by having at least on modified nucleoside at the 5′ end and at the 3′ end of the region.

In some embodiments, the modified nucleosides in region F have a 3′ endo structure.

In an embodiment, one or more of the modified nucleosides in region F are 2′ modified nucleosides. In one embodiment all the nucleosides in Region F are 2′ modified nucleosides.

In another embodiment region F comprises DNA and/or RNA in addition to the 2′ modified nucleosides. Flanks comprising DNA and/or RNA are characterized by having a 2′ modified nucleoside in the 5′ end and the 3′ end (adjacent to the G region) of the F region. In one embodiment the region F comprise DNA nucleosides, such as from 1 to 3 contiguous DNA nucleosides, such as 1 to 3 or 1 to 2 contiguous DNA nucleosides. The DNA nucleosides in the flanks should preferably not be able to recruit RNase H. In some embodiments the 2′ modified nucleosides and DNA and/or RNA nucleosides in the F region alternate with 1 to 3 2′ modified nucleosides and 1 to 3 DNA and/or RNA nucleosides. Such flanks can also be termed alternating flanks. The length of the 5′ flank (region F) in oligonucleotides with alternating flanks may be 4 to 10 nucleosides, such as 4 to 8, such as 4 to 6 nucleosides, such as 4, 5, 6 or 7 modified nucleosides. In some embodiments only the 5′ flank of the oligonucleotide is alternating. Specific examples of region F with alternating nucleosides are

2′₁₋₃-N′₁₋₄-2′₁₋₃

2′₁₋₂-N′₁₋₂-2′₁₋₂-N′₁₋₂-2′₁₋₂

Where 2′ indicates a modified nucleoside and N′ is a RNA or DNA. In some embodiments all the modified nucleosides in the alternating flanks are LNA and the N′ is DNA. In a further embodiment one or more of the 2′ modified nucleosides in region F are selected from 2′-O-alkyl-RNA units, 2′-O-methyl-RNA, 2′-amino-DNA units, 2′-fluoro-DNA units, 2′-alkoxy-RNA, MOE units, LNA units, arabino nucleic acid (ANA) units and 2′-fluoro-ANA units.

In some embodiments the F region comprises both LNA and a 2′ substituted modified nucleoside. These are often termed mixed wing or mixed flank oligonucleotides.

In one embodiment of the invention all the modified nucleosides in region F are LNA nucleosides. In a further embodiment all the nucleosides in Region F are LNA nucleosides. In a further embodiment the LNA nucleosides in region F are independently selected from the group consisting of oxy-LNA, thio-LNA, amino-LNA, cET, and/or ENA, in either the beta-D or alpha-L configurations or combinations thereof. In a preferred embodiment region F comprise at least 1 beta-D-oxy LNA unit, at the 5′ end of the contiguous sequence.

Region G

Region G (gap region) preferably comprise, contain or consist of at least 4, such as at least 5, such as at least 6, at least 7, at least 8, at least 9, at least 10, at least 11, at least 12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15 or at least 16 consecutive nucleosides capable of recruiting the aforementioned nuclease, in particular RNaseH. In a further embodiment region G comprise, contain or consist of from 5 to 12, or from 6 to 10 or from 7 to 9, such as 8 consecutive nucleotide units capable of recruiting aforementioned nuclease.

The nucleoside units in region G, which are capable of recruiting nuclease are in an embodiment selected from the group consisting of DNA, alpha-L-LNA, C4′ alkylated DNA (as described in PCT/EP2009/050349 and Vester et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 18 (2008) 2296-2300, both incorporated herein by reference), arabinose derived nucleosides like ANA and 2′F-ANA (Mangos et al. 2003 J. AM. CHEM. SOC. 125, 654-661), UNA (unlocked nucleic acid) (as described in Fluiter et al., Mol. Biosyst., 2009, 10, 1039 incorporated herein by reference). UNA is unlocked nucleic acid, typically where the bond between C2 and C3 of the ribose has been removed, forming an unlocked “sugar” residue.

In a still further embodiment at least one nucleoside unit in region G is a DNA nucleoside unit, such as from 1 to 18 DNA units, such as 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 or 17 DNA units, preferably from 2 to 17 DNA units, such as from 3 to 16 DNA units, such as from 4 to DNA units. such as from 5 to 14 DNA units, such as from 6 to 13 DNA units, such as from 7 to 12 DNA units, such as from 8 to 11 DNA units, more preferably from units 8 to 17 DNA units, or from 9 to 16 DNA units, 10 to 15 DNA units or 11 to 13 DNA units, such as 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 154, 16, 17 DNA units. In some embodiments, region G consists of 100% DNA units.

In further embodiments the region G may consist of a mixture of DNA and other nucleosides capable of mediating RNase H cleavage. Region G may consist of at least 50% DNA, more preferably 60%, 70% or 80% DNA, and even more preferred 90% or 95% DNA.

In a still further embodiment at least one nucleoside unit in region G is an alpha-L-LNA nucleoside unit, such as at least one alpha-L-LNA, such as 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 alpha-L-LNA. In a further embodiment, region G comprises the least one alpha-L-LNA is alpha-L-oxy-LNA. In a further embodiment region G comprises a combination of DNA and alpha-L-LNA nucleoside units.

In some embodiments, nucleosides in region G have a 2′ endo structure.

In some embodiments region G may comprise a gapbreaker nucleoside, leading to a gapbreaker oligonucleotide, which is capable of recruiting RNase H.

Region F′

Region F′ (3′ flank or 3′ wing) attached to the ′3 end of region G comprises, contains or consists of at least one modified nucleoside such as at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 7 modified nucleosides. In an embodiment region F′ comprise or consist of from 1 to 7 modified nucleosides, such as from 2 to 6 modified nucleoside, such as from 2 to 4 modified nucleosides, such as from 1 to 3 modified nucleosides, such as 1, 2, 3 or 4 modified nucleosides. The F′ region is defined by having at least on modified nucleoside at the 5′ end and at the 3′ end of the region.

In some embodiments, the modified nucleosides in region F′ have a 3′ endo structure.

In an embodiment, one or more of the modified nucleosides in region F′ are 2′ modified nucleosides. In one embodiment all the nucleosides in Region F′ are 2′ modified nucleosides.

In an embodiment, one or more of the modified nucleosides in region F′ are 2′ modified nucleosides.

In one embodiment all the nucleosides in Region F′ are 2′ modified nucleosides. In another embodiment region F′ comprises DNA or RNA in addition to the 2′ modified nucleosides. Flanks comprising DNA or RNA are characterized by having a 2′ modified nucleoside in the 5′ end (adjacent to the G region) and the 3′ end of the F′ region. In one embodiment the region F′ comprises DNA nucleosides, such as from 1 to 4 contiguous DNA nucleosides, such as 1 to 3 or 1 to 2 contiguous DNA nucleosides. The DNA nucleosides in the flanks should preferably not be able to recruit RNase H. In some embodiments the 2′ modified nucleosides and DNA and/or RNA nucleosides in the F′ region alternate with 1 to 3 2′ modified nucleosides and 1 to 3 DNA and/or RNA nucleosides, such flanks can also be termed alternating flanks. The length of the 3′ flank (region F′) in oligonucleotides with alternating flanks may be 4 to 10 nucleosides, such as 4 to 8, such as 4 to 6 nucleosides, such as 4, 5, 6 or 7 modified nucleosides. In some embodiments only the 3′ flank of the oligonucleotide is alternating. Specific examples of region F′ with alternating nucleosides are

2′₁₋₂-N′₁₋₄-2′₁₋₄

2′₁₋₂-N′₁₋₂-2′₁₋₂-N′₁₋₂-2′₁₋₂

Where 2′ indicates a modified nucleoside and N′ is a RNA or DNA. In some embodiments all the modified nucleosides in the alternating flanks are LNA and the N′ is DNA. In a further embodiment modified nucleosides in region F′ are selected from 2′-O-alkyl-RNA units, 2′-O-methyl-RNA, 2′-amino-DNA units, 2′-fluoro-DNA units, 2′-alkoxy-RNA, MOE units, LNA units, arabino nucleic acid (ANA) units and 2′-fluoro-ANA units.

In some embodiments the F′ region comprises both LNA and a 2′ substituted modified nucleoside. These are often termed mixed wing or mixed flank oligonucleotides.

In one embodiment of the invention all the modified nucleosides in region F′ are LNA nucleosides. In a further embodiment all the nucleosides in Region F′ are LNA nucleosides. In a further embodiment the LNA nucleosides in region F′ are independently selected from the group consisting of oxy-LNA, thio-LNA, amino-LNA, cET and/or ENA, in either the beta-D or alpha-L configurations or combinations thereof. In a preferred embodiment region F′ has at least 2 beta-D-oxy LNA unit, at the 3′ end of the contiguous sequence.

Region D′ and D″

Region D′ and D″ can be attached to the 5′ end of region F or the 3′ end of region F′, respectively. Region D′ or D″ are optional.

Region D′ or D″ may independently comprise 0 to 5, such as 1 to 5, such as 2 to 4, such as 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 additional nucleotides, which may be complementary or non-complementary to the target nucleic acid. In this respect the oligonucleotide of the invention, may in some embodiments comprise a contiguous nucleotide sequence capable of modulating the target which is flanked at the 5′ and/or 3′ end by additional nucleotides. Such additional nucleotides may serve as a nuclease susceptible biocleavable linker (see definition of linkers). In some embodiments the additional 5′ and/or 3′ end nucleosides are linked with phosphodiester linkages, and may be DNA or RNA. In another embodiment, the additional 5′ and/or 3′ end nucleosides are modified nucleosides which may for example be included to enhance nuclease stability or for ease of synthesis. In one embodiment, the oligonucleotide of the invention, comprises a region D′ and/or D″ at the 5′ or 3′ end of the contiguous nucleotide sequence. In a further embodiment the D′ and/or D″ region is composed of 1 to 5 phosphodiester linked DNA or RNA nucleosides which are not complementary to the target nucleic acid.

The gapmer oligonucleotide of the present invention can be represented by the following formulae:

5′-F-G-F′-3′; in particular F₁₋₇-G₄₋₁₂-F′₁₋₇

5′-D′-F-G-F′-3′, in particular D′₁₋₃-F₁₋₇-G₄₋₁₂-F′₁₋₇

5′-F-G-F′-D″-3′, in particular F₁₋₇-G₄₋₁₂-F′₁₋₇-D″₁₋₃

5′-D′-F-G-F′-D′-3″, in particular D′₁₋₃-F₁₋₇-G₄₋₁₂-F′₁₋₇-D″₁₋₃

The preferred number and types of nucleosides in regions F, G and F′, D′ and D″ have been described above. The oligonucleotide conjugates of the present invention have a region C covalently attached to either the 5′ or 3′ end of the oligonucleotide, in particular the gapmer oligonucleotides presented above.

In one embodiment the oligonucleotide conjugate of the invention comprises a oligonucleotide with the formula 5‘-D’-F-G-F′-3′ or 5‘-F-G-F’-D″-3′, where region F and F′ independently comprise 1-7 modified nucleosides, G is a region between 6 and 16 nucleosides which are capable of recruiting RNaseH and region D′ or D″ comprise 1-5 phosphodiester linked nucleosides. Preferably region D′ or D″ is present in the end of the oligonucleotide where conjugation to a conjugate moiety is contemplated.

Examples of oligonucleotides with alternating flanks can be represented by the following formulae:

2′₁₋₃-N′₁₋₄-2′₁₋₃-G₆₋₁₂-2′₁₋₂-N′₁₋₄-2′₁₋₄

2′₁₋₂-N′₁₋₂-2′₁₋₂-N′₁₋₂-2′₁₋₂-G₆₋₁₂-2′₁₋₂-N′₁₋₂-2′₁₋₂-N′₁₋₂-2′₁₋₂

F-G₆₋₁₂-2′₁₋₂-N′₁₋₄-2′₁₋₄

F-G₆₋₁₂-2′₁₋₂-N′₁₋₂-2′₁₋₂-N′₁₋₂-2′₁₋₂

2′₁₋₃-N′₁₋₄-2′₁₋₃-G₆₋₁₂-F′

2′₁₋₂-N′₁₋₂-2′₁₋₂-N₁₋₂-2′₁₋₂-G₆₋₂-F′

Where a flank is indicated by F or F′ it only contains 2′ modified nucleosides, such as LNA nucleosides. The preferred number and types of nucleosides in the alternating regions, and region F, G and F′, D′ and D″ have been described above.

In some embodiments the oligonucleotide is a gapmer consisting of 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 nucleotides in length, wherein each of regions F and F′ independently consists of 1, 2, 3 or 4 modified nucleoside units complementary to the PD-L1 target nucleic acid and region G consists of 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 nucleoside units, capable of recruiting nuclease when in duplex with the PD-L1 target nucleic acid and region D′ consists of 2 phosphodiester linked DNAs.

In a further embodiments, the oligonucleotide is a gapmer wherein each of regions F and F′ independently consists of 3, 4, 5 or 6 modified nucleoside units, such as nucleoside units containing a 2′-O-methoxyethyl-ribose sugar (2′-MOE) or nucleoside units containing a 2′-fluoro-deoxyribose sugar and/or LNA units, and region G consists of 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 or 17 nucleoside units, such as DNA units or other nuclease recruiting nucleosides such as alpha-L-LNA or a mixture of DNA and nuclease recruiting nucleosides.

In a further specific embodiment, the oligonucleotide is a gapmer wherein each of regions F and F′ region consists of two LNA units each, and region G consists of 12, 13, 14 nucleoside units, preferably DNA units. Specific gapmer designs of this nature include 2-12-2, 2-13-2 and 2-14-2.

In a further specific embodiment, the oligonucleotide is a gapmer wherein each of regions F and F′ independently consists of three LNA units, and region G consists of 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14 nucleoside units, preferably DNA units. Specific gapmer designs of this nature include 3-8-3, 3-9-3 3-10-3, 3-11-3, 3-12-3, 3-13-3 and 3-14-3.

In a further specific embodiment, the oligonucleotide is a gapmer wherein each of regions F and F′ consists of four LNA units each, and region G consists of 8 or 9, 10, 11 or 12 nucleoside units, preferably DNA units. Specific gapmer designs of this nature include 4-8-4, 4-9-4, 4-10-4, 4-11-4 and 4-12-4.

Specific gapmer designs of this nature include F-G-F′ designs selected from a group consisting of a gap with 6 nucleosides and independently 1 to 4 modified nucleosides in the wings including 1-6-1, 1-6-2, 2-6-1, 1-6-3, 3-6-1, 1-6-4, 4-6-1, 2-6-2, 2-6-3, 3-6-2 2-6-4, 4-6-2, 3-6-3, 3-6-4 and 4-6-3 gapmers.

Specific gapmer designs of this nature include F-G-F′ designs selected from a group consisting of a gap with 7 nucleosides and independently 1 to 4 modified nucleosides in the wings including 1-7-1, 2-7-1, 1-7-2, 1-7-3, 3-7-1, 1-7-4, 4-7-1, 2-7-2, 2-7-3, 3-7-2, 2-7-4, 4-7-2, 3-7-3, 3-7-4, 4-7-3 and 4-7-4 gapmers.

Specific gapmer designs of this nature include F-G-F′ designs selected from a group consisting of a gap with 8 nucleosides and independently 1 to 4 modified nucleosides in the wings including 1-8-1, 1-8-2, 1-8-3, 3-8-1, 1-8-4, 4-8-1, 2-8-1, 2-8-2, 2-8-3, 3-8-2, 2-8-4, 4-8-2, 3-8-3, 3-8-4, 4-8-3 and 4-8-4 gapmers.

Specific gapmer designs of this nature include F-G-F′ designs selected from a group consisting of a gap with 9 nucleosides and independently 1 to 4 modified nucleosides in the wings including, 1-9-1, 2-9-1, 1-9-2, 1-9-3, 3-9-1, 1-9-4, 4-9-1, 2-9-2, 2-9-3, 3-9-2, 2-9-4, 4-9-2, 3-9-3, 3-9-4, 4-9-3 and 4-9-4 gapmers.

Specific gapmer designs of this nature include F-G-F′ designs selected from a group consisting of a gap with 10 nucleosides including, 1-10-1, 2-10-1, 1-10-2, 1-10-3, 3-10-1, 1-10-4, 4-10-1, 2-10-2, 2-10-3, 3-10-2, 2-10-4, 4-10-2, 3-10-3, 3-10-4, 4-10-3 and 4-10-4 gapmers.

Specific gapmer designs of this nature include F-G-F′ designs selected from a group consisting of a gap with 11 nucleosides including, 1-11-1, 2-11-1, 1-11-2, 1-11-3, 3-11-1, 1-11-4, 4-11-1, 2-11-2, 2-11-3, 3-11-2, 2-11-4, 4-11-2, 3-11-3, 3-11-4, 4-11-3 and 4-11-4 gapmers.

Specific gapmer designs of this nature include F-G-F′ designs selected from a group consisting of a gap with 12 nucleosides including, 1-12-1, 2-12-1, 1-12-2, 1-12-3, 3-12-1, 1-12-4, 4-12-1, 2-12-2, 2-12-3, 3-12-2, 2-12-4, 4-12-2, 3-12-3, 3-12-4, 4-12-3 and 4-12-4 gapmers.

Specific gapmer designs of this nature include F-G-F′ designs selected from a group consisting of a gap with 13 nucleosides including, 1-13-1, 2-13-1, 1-13-2, 1-13-3, 3-13-1, 1-13-4, 4-13-1, 2-13-2, 2-13-3, 3-13-2, 2-13-4, 4-13-2, 3-13-3, 3-13-4, 4-13-3 and 4-13-4 gapmers.

Specific gapmer designs of this nature include F-G-F′ designs selected from a group consisting of a gap with 14 nucleosides including, 1-14-1, 2-14-1, 1-14-2, 1-14-3, 3-14-1, 1-14-4, 4-14-1, 2-14-2, 2-14-3, 3-14-2, 2-14-4, 4-14-2, 3-14-3, 3-14-4, 4-14-3 and 4-14-4 gapmers.

Specific gapmer designs of this nature include F-G-F′ designs selected from a group consisting of a gap with 15 nucleosides including, 1-15-1, 2-15-1, 1-15-2, 1-15-3, 3-15-1, 1-15-4, 4-15-1, 2-15-2, 2-15-3, 3-15-2, 2-15-4, 4-15-2 and 3-15-3 gapmers.

Specific gapmer designs of this nature include F-G-F′ designs selected from a group consisting of a gap with 16 nucleosides including, 1-16-1, 2-16-1, 1-16-2, 1-16-3, 3-16-1, 1-16-4, 4-16-1, 2-16-2, 2-16-3, 3-16-2, 2-16-4, 4-16-2 and 3-16-3 gapmers.

Specific gapmer designs of this nature include F-G-F′ designs selected from a group consisting of a gap with 17 nucleosides including, 1-17-1, 2-17-1, 1-17-2, 1-17-3, 3-17-1, 1-17-4, 4-17-1, 2-17-2, 2-17-3 and 3-17-2 gapmers.

In all instances the F-G-F′ design may further include region D′ and/or D″, which may have 1, 2 or 3 nucleoside units, such as DNA units, such as 2 phosphodiester linked DNA units. Preferably, the nucleosides in region F and F′ are modified nucleosides, while nucleotides in region G are preferably unmodified nucleosides.

In each design, the preferred modified nucleoside is LNA.

In another embodiment all the internucleoside linkages in the gap in a gapmer are phosphorothioate and/or boranophosphate linkages. In another embodiment all the internucleoside linkages in the flanks (F and F′ region) in a gapmer are phosphorothioate and/or boranophosphate linkages. In another preferred embodiment all the internucleoside linkages in the D′ and D″ region in a gapmer are phosphodiester linkages.

For specific gapmers as disclosed herein, when the cytosine (C) residues are annotated as 5-methyl-cytosine, in various embodiments, one or more of the Cs present in the oligonucleotide may be unmodified C residues.

In a particular embodiment, the gapmer is a so-called shortmer as described in WO2008/113832 incorporated herein by reference.

Further gapmer designs are disclosed in WO2004/046160, WO2007/146511 and incorporated by reference.

For certain embodiments of the invention, the oligonucleotide is selected from the group of oligonucleotide compounds with CMP-ID-NO: 5_1 to 743_1 and 771_1.

For certain embodiments of the invention, the oligonucleotide is selected from the group of oligonucleotide compounds with CMP-ID-NO 6_1, 8_1, 9_1, 13_1, 41_1, 42_1, 58_1, 77_1, 92_1, 111_1, 128_1, 151_1, 164_1, 166_1, 169_1, 171_1, 222_1, 233_1, 245_1, 246_1, 250_1, 251_1, 252_1, 256_1, 272_1, 273_1, 287_1, 292_1, 303_1, 314_1, 318_1, 320_1, 324_1, 336_1, 342_1, 343_1, 344_1, 345_1, 346_1, 349_1, 359_1, 360_1, 374_1, 408_1, 409_1, 415_1, 417_1, 424_1, 429_1, 430_1, 458_1, 464_1, 466_1, 474_1, 490_1, 493_1, 512_1, 519_1, 519_1, 529_1, 533_1, 534_1, 547_1, 566_1, 567_1, 578_1, 582_1, 601_1, 619_1, 620_1, 636_1, 637_1, 638_1, 640_1, 645_1, 650_1, 651_1, 652_1, 653_1, 658_1, 659_1, 660_1, 665_1, 678_1, 679_1, 680_1, 682_1, 683_1, 684_1, 687_1, 694_1, 706_1, 716_1, 728_1, 733_1, 734_1, and 735_1.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the oligonucleotide is CMP-ID-NO: 287_1.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the oligonucleotide is CMP-ID-NO: 342_1.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the oligonucleotide is CMP-ID-NO: 640_1.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the oligonucleotide is CMP-ID-NO: 466_1.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the oligonucleotide is CMP-ID-NO: 566_1.

In a further embodiment of the invention the contiguous nucleotide sequence of the oligonucleotide motifs and oligonucleotide compounds of the invention comprise two to four additional phosphodiester linked nucleosides at the 5′ end of the contiguous nucleotide sequence (e.g. region D′). In one embodiment the nucleosides serve as a biocleavable linker (see section on biocleavable linkers). In a preferred embodiment a ca (cytidine-adenosine) dinucleotide is linked to the 5′ end of contiguous nucleotide sequence (i.e. any one of the motif sequences or oligonucleotide compounds listed in table 5) via a phosphodiester linkage. In a preferred embodiment the ca di nucleotide is not complementary to the target sequence at the position where the reminder of the contigious nucleotide is complementary.

In some embodiments of the invention the oligonucleotide or contiguous nucleotide sequence is selected from the group consisting of the nucleotide motif sequences with SEQ ID NO: 766, 767, 768, 769 and 770.

In some embodiments of the invention the oligonucleotide is selected from the group consisting of the oligonucleotide compounds with CMP-ID-NO 766_1, 767_1, 768_1, 769_1 and 770_1.

Carbohydrate Conjugate Moieties

Carbohydrate conjugate moieties include but are not limited to galactose, lactose, n-acetylgalactosamine, mannose and mannose-6-phosphate. Carbohydrate conjugates may be used to enhance delivery or activity in a range of tissues, such as liver and/or muscle. See, for example, EP1495769, WO99/65925, Yang et al., Bioconjug Chem (2009) 20(2): 213-21. Zatsepin & Oretskaya Chem Biodivers. (2004) 1(10): 1401-17.

In some embodiments the carbohydrate conjugate moiety is multivalent, such as, for example 2, 3 or 4 identical or non-identical carbohydrate moieties may be covalently joined to the oligonucleotide, optionally via a linker or linkers. In some embodiments the invention provides a conjugate comprising the oligonucleotide of the invention and a carbohydrate conjugate moiety.

In some embodiments, the conjugate moiety is or may comprise mannose or mannose-6-phosphate. This is particular useful for targeting muscle cells, see for example US 2012/122801.

Conjugate moieties capable of binding to the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPr) are particular useful for targeting hepatocytes in liver. In some embodiments the invention provides a oligonucleotide conjugate comprising the oligonucleotide of the invention and an asialoglycoprotein receptor targeting conjugate moiety. The asialoglycoprotein receptor targeting conjugate moiety comprises one or more carbohydrate moieties capable of binding to the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASPGr binding carbohydrate moieties) with affinity equal to or greater than that of galactose. The affinities of numerous galactose derivatives for the asialoglycoprotein receptor have been studied (see for example: Jobst, S. T. and Drickamer, K. JB.C. 1996, 271, 6686) or are readily determined using methods typical in the art.

One aspect of the present invention is an antisense oligonucleotide conjugate comprising a) an oligonucleotide (Region A) comprising a contiguous nucleotide sequence of 10 to 30 nucleotides in length with at least 90% complementarity to a PD-L1 target nucleic acid; and b) at least one asialoglycoprotein receptor targeting conjugate moiety (Region C) covalently attached to the oligonucleotide in a). The oligonucleotide or a contiguous nucleotide sequence can be as described in any of the sections “oligonucleotides of the invention”, “oligonucleotide design and “gapmer design”.

In some embodiments asialoglycoprotein receptor targeting conjugate moiety comprises at least one ASPGr binding carbohydrate moiety selected from the group consisting of galactose, galactosamine, N-formyl-galactosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine, N-propionyl-galactosamine, N-n-butanoyl-galactosamine and N-isobutanoylgalactosamine. In some embodiments, the asialoglycoprotein receptor targeting conjugate moiety is mono-valent, di-valent, tri-valent or tetra-valent (i.e. containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 terminal carbohydrate moieties capable of binding to the asialoglycoprotein receptor). Preferably, the asialoglycoprotein receptor targeting conjugate moiety is di-valent, even more preferred it is trivalent. In a preferred embodiment the asialoglycoprotein receptor targeting conjugate moiety comprises 1 to 3 N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) moieties (also termed a GalNAc conjugate). In some embodiments the oligonucleotide conjugate comprises a asialoglycoprotein receptor targeting conjugate moiety that is a tri-valent N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) moiety. GalNAc conjugates have been used with phosphodiester, methylphosphonate and PNA antisense oligonucleotides (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,994,517 and Hangeland et al., Bioconjug Chem. 1995 November-December; 6(6):695-701, Biessen et al 1999 Biochem J. 340, 783-792 and Maier et al 2003 Bioconjug Chem 14, 18-29) and siRNAs (e.g. WO 2009/126933, WO 2012/089352 & WO 2012/083046) and with LNA and 2′-MOE modified nucleosides WO 2014/076196 WO 2014/207232 and WO 2014/179620 (hereby incorporated by reference).

To generate the asialoglycoprotein receptor targeting conjugate moiety the ASPGr binding carbohydrate moieties (preferably GalNAc) are attached to a brancher molecule through the C-I carbons of the saccharides. The ASPGr binding carbohydrate moieties are preferably linked to the brancher molecule via spacers. A preferred spacer is a flexible hydrophilic spacer (U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,968; Biessen et al. J. Med. Chern. 1995 Vol. 39 p. 1538-1546). A preferred flexible hydrophilic spacer is a PEG spacer. A preferred PEG spacer is a PEG3 spacer (three ethylene units). The brancher molecule can be any small molecule which permits attachment of two or three terminal ASPGr binding carbohydrate moieties and further permits attachment of the branch point to the oligonucleotide. An exemplary brancher molecule is a di-lysine. A di-lysine molecule contains three amine groups through which three ASPGr binding carbohydrate moieties may be attached and a carboxyl reactive group through which the di-lysine may be attached to the oligonucleotide. Alternative brancher molecules may be a doubler or trebler such as those supplied by Glen Research. In some embodiments the brancher may be selected from the from the group consisting of 1,3-bis-[5-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityloxy)pentylamido]propyl-2-[(2-cyanoethyl)-(N,N-diisopropyl)] phosphoramidite (Glen Research Catalogue Number: 10-1920-xx), tris-2,2,2-[3-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityloxy)propyloxymethyl]ethyl-[(2-cyanoethyl)-(N,N-diisopropyl)]-phosphoramidite (Glen Research Catalogue Number: 10-1922-xx), tris-2,2,2-[3-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityloxy)propyloxymethyl]methyleneoxypropyl-[(2-cyanoethyl)-(N,N-diisopropyl)]-phosphoramidite and 1-[5-(4,4′-dimethoxy-trityloxy)pentylamido]-3-[5-fluorenomethoxy-carbonyl-oxy-pentylamido]-propyl-2-[(2-cyanoethyl)-(N,N-diisopropyl)]-phosphoramidite (Glen Research Catalogue Number: 10-1925-xx). WO 2014/179620 and PCT application No. PCT/EP2015/073331 describes the generation of various GalNAc conjugate moieties (hereby incorporated by reference). One or more linkers may be inserted between the brancher molecule and the oligonucleotide. In a preferred embodiment the linker is a biocleavable linker. The linker may be selected from the linkers described in the section “Linkers” and its subsections.

The asialoglycoprotein receptor targeting conjugate moiety, in particular the GalNAc conjugate moiety, may be attached to the 3′- or 5′-end of the oligonucleotide using methods known in the art. In preferred embodiments the asialoglycoprotein receptor targeting conjugate moiety is linked to the 5′-end of the oligonucleotide.

Pharmacokinetic modulators in relation to siRNAs delivery has been described in WO 2012/083046 (hereby incorporated by reference). In some embodiments the carbohydrate conjugate moiety comprises a pharmacokinetic modulator selected from the group consisting of a hydrophobic group having 16 or more carbon atoms, hydrophobic group having 16-20 carbon atoms, palmitoyl, hexadec-8-enoyl, oleyl, (9E,12E)-octadeca-9,12dienoyl, dioctanoyl, and C16-C20 acyl, and cholesterol. In a preferred embodiment the pharmacokinetic modulator containing carbohydrate conjugate moiety is a GalNAc conjugate.

Preferred carbohydrate conjugate moieties comprises one to three terminal ASPGr binding carbohydrate moieties, preferably N-acetylgalactosamine moiety(s). In some embodiments the carbohydrate conjugate moiety comprises three ASPGr binding carbohydrate moieties, preferably N-acetylgalactosamine moieties, linked via a spacer to a brancher molecule. The spacer molecule can be between 8 and 30 atoms long. A preferred carbohydrate conjugate moiety comprises three terminal GalNAc moieties linked via a PEG spacer to a di-lysine brancher molecule. Preferably the PEG spacer is a 3PEG spacer. Suitable asialoglycoprotein receptor targeting conjugate moieties are shown in FIG. 1. A preferred asialoglycoprotein receptor targeting conjugate moiety is shown in FIG. 3.

Other GalNAc conjugate moieties can include, for example, small peptides with GalNAc moieties attached such as Tyr-Glu-Glu-(aminohexyl GalNAc)3 (YEE(ahGalNAc)3; a glycotripeptide that binds to asialoglycoprotein receptor on hepatocytes, see, e.g., Duff, et al., Methods Enzymol, 2000, 313, 297); lysine-based galactose clusters (e.g., L3G4; Biessen, et al., Cardovasc. Med., 1999, 214); and cholane-based galactose clusters (e.g., carbohydrate recognition motif for asialoglycoprotein receptor).

In some embodiments of the invention the antisense oligonucleotide conjugate is selected from the group consisting of the following CPM ID NO: 766_2, 767_2, 768_2, 769_2 and 770_2.

In a preferred embodiment the antisense oligonucleotide conjugate corresponds to the compound represented in FIG. 4.

In another preferred embodiment the antisense oligonucleotide conjugate corresponds to the compound represented in FIG. 5.

In another preferred embodiment the antisense oligonucleotide conjugate corresponds to the compound represented in FIG. 6.

In another preferred embodiment the antisense oligonucleotide conjugate corresponds to the compound represented in FIG. 7.

In another preferred embodiment the antisense oligonucleotide conjugate corresponds to the compound represented in FIG. 8.

Linkers Biocleavable Linkers (Region B)

The use of a conjugate is often associated with enhanced pharmacokinetic or pharmeodynamic dynamic properties. However, the presence of a conjugate moiety may interfere with the activity of the oligonucleotide against its intended target, for example via steric hindrance preventing hybridization or nuclease recruitment (e.g. RNAseH). The use of a physiologically labile bond (biocleavable linker) between the oligonucleotide (region A or first region) and the conjugate moiety (region C or third region), allows for the improved properties due to the presence of the conjugate moiety, whilst ensuring that once at the target tissue, the conjugate group does not prevent effective activity of the oligonucleotide.

Cleavage of the physiologically labile bond occurs spontaneously when a molecule containing the labile bond reaches an appropriate intra- and/or extra-cellular environment. For example, a pH labile bond may be cleaved when the molecule enters an acidified endosome. Thus, a pH labile bond may be considered to be an endosomal cleavable bond. Enzyme cleavable bonds may be cleaved when exposed to enzymes such as those present in an endosome or lysosome or in the cytoplasm. A disulfide bond may be cleaved when the molecule enters the more reducing environment of the cell cytoplasm. Thus, a disulfide may be considered to be a cytoplasmic cleavable bond. As used herein, a pH-labile bond is a labile bond that is selectively broken under acidic conditions (pH<7). Such bonds may also be termed endosomally labile bonds, since cell endosomes and lysosomes have a pH less than 7.

For biocleavable linkers associated with a conjugate moiety for targeted delivery it is preferred that, the cleavage rate seen in the target tissue (for example muscle, liver, kidney or a tumor) is greater than that found in blood serum. Suitable methods for determining the level (%) of cleavage in target tissue versus serum or cleavage by S1 nuclease are described in the “Materials and methods” section. In some embodiments, the biocleavable linker (also referred to as the physiologically labile linker, or nuclease susceptible linker or region B), in a conjugate of the invention, is at least about 20% cleaved, such as at least about 30% cleaved, such as at least about 40% cleaved, such as at least about 50% cleaved, such as at least about 60% cleaved, such as at least about 70% cleaved, such as at least about 75% cleaved when compared against a standard.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide conjugate of the invention comprises three regions: i) a first region (region A), which comprises 10-25 contiguous nucleotides complementary to the target nucleic acid; ii) a second region (region B) which comprises a biocleavable linker and iii) a third region (region C) which comprises a conjugate moiety, such as an asialoglycoprotein receptor targeting conjugate moiety, wherein the third region is covalent linked to the second region which is covalently linked to the first region.

In one embodiment of the present invention the oligonucleotide conjugate comprises a biocleavable linker (Region B) between the contiguous nucleotide sequence (region A) and the asialoglycoprotein receptor targeting conjugate moiety (region C).

In some embodiments, the biocleavable linker may be situated either at the 5′ end and/or the 3′-end of the contiguous nucleotides complementary to the target nucleic acid (region A). In a preferred embodiment the biocleavable linker is at the 5′-end.

In some embodiments, the cleavable linker is susceptible to nuclease(s) which may for example, be expressed in the target cell. In some embodiments the biocleavable linker is composed of 2 to 5 consecutive phosphodiester linkages. The linker may be a short region (e.g. 1-10 as detailed in the definition of linkers) phosphodiester linked nucleosides. In some embodiments, the nucleosides in the biocleavable linker region B is (optionally independently) selected from the group consisting of DNA and RNA or modifications thereof which do not interfere with nuclease cleavage. Modifications of DNA and RNA nucleosides which do not interfere with nuclease cleavage may be non-naturally occurring nucleobases. Certain sugar-modified nucleosides may also allow nuclease cleavage such as an alpha-L-oxy-LNA. In some embodiments, all the nucleosides of region B comprise (optionally independently) either a 2′-OH ribose sugar (RNA) or a 2′-H sugar—i.e. RNA or DNA. In a preferred embodiment, at least two consecutive nucleosides of region B are DNA or RNA nucleosides (such as at least 3 or 4 or 5 consecutive DNA or RNA nucleosides). In an even more preferred embodiment, the nucleosides of region B are DNA nucleosides Preferably region B consists of between 1 to 5, or 1 to 4, such as 2, 3, 4 consecutive phosphodiester linked DNA nucleosides. In preferred embodiments region B is so short that it does not recruit RNAseH. In some embodiments, region B comprises no more than 3 or no more than 4 consecutive phospodiester linked DNA and/or RNA nucleosides (such as DNA nucleosides).

Where region B is composed of phosphodiester linked nucleosides, region A and B may together form the oligonucleotide that is linked to region C. In this context region A can be differentiated from region B in that Region A starts with at least one, preferably at least two, modified nucleosides with increased binding affinity to the target nucleic acid (e.g. LNA or nucleosides with a 2′ substituted sugar moiety) and region A on its own is capable of modulation of the expression the target nucleic acid in a relevant cell line. Furthermore, if region A comprises DNA or RNA nucleosides these are linked with nuclease resistant internucleoside linkage, such phosphorothioate or boranophosphate. Region B on the other hand comprises phophodiester linkages between DNA or RNA nucleosides. In some embodiments region B is not complementary to or comprises at least 50% mismatches to the target nucleic acid.

In some embodiments, region B is not complementary to the target nucleic acid sequence or to the contiguous nucleotides complementary to the target nucleic acid in region A.

In some embodiments, region B is complementary with the target nucleic acid sequence. In this respect region A and B together may form a single contiguous sequence which is complementary to the target sequence.

In some aspects of the invention the internucleoside linkage between the first (region A) and the second region (region B) may be considered part of the second region.

In some embodiments, the sequence of bases in region B is selected to provide an optimal endonuclease cleavage site, based upon the predominant endonuclease cleavage enzymes present in the target tissue or cell or sub-cellular compartment. In this respect, by isolating cell extracts from target tissues and non-target tissues, endonuclease cleavage sequences for use in region B may be selected based upon a preferential cleavage activity in the desired target cell (e.g. liver/hepatocytes) as compared to a non-target cell (e.g. kidney). In this respect, the potency of the compound for target down-regulation may be optimized for the desired tissue/cell.

In some embodiments region B comprises a dinucleotide of sequence AA, AT, AC, AG, TA, TT, TC, TG, CA, CT, CC, CG, GA, GT, GC, or GG, wherein C may be 5-methylcytosine, and/or T may be replaced with U. Preferably, the internucleoside linkage is a phosphodiester linkage. In some embodiments region B comprises a trinucleotide of sequence AAA, AAT, AAC, AAG, ATA, ATT, ATC, ATG, ACA, ACT, ACC, ACG, AGA, AGT, AGC, AGG, TAA, TAT, TAC, TAG, TTA, TTT, TTC, TAG, TCA, TCT, TCC, TCG, TGA, TGT, TGC, TGG, CAA, CAT, CAC, CAG, CTA, CTG, CTC, CTT, CCA, CCT, CCC, CCG, CGA, CGT, CGC, CGG, GAA, GAT, GAC, CAG, GTA, GTT, GTC, GTG, GCA, GCT, GCC, GCG, GGA, GGT, GGC, and GGG wherein C may be 5-methylcytosine and/or T may be replaced with U. Preferably, the internucleoside linkages are phosphodiester linkages. In some embodiments region B comprises a trinucleotide of sequence AAAX, AATX, AACX, AAGX, ATAX, ATTX, ATCX, ATGX, ACAX, ACTX, ACCX, ACGX, AGAX, AGTX, AGCX, AGGX, TAAX, TATX, TACX, TAGX, TTAX, TTTX, TTCX, TAGX, TCAX, TCTX, TCCX, TCGX, TGAX, TGTX, TGCX, TGGX, CAAX, CATX, CACX, CAGX, CTAX, CTGX, CTCX, CTTX, CCAX, CCTX, CCCX, CCGX, CGAX, CGTX, CGCX, CGGX, GAAX, GATX, GACX, CAGX, GTAX, GTTX, GTCX, GTGX, GCAX, GCTX, GCCX, GCGX, GGAX, GGTX, GGCX, and GGGX, wherein X may be selected from the group consisting of A, T, U, G, C and analogues thereof, wherein C may be 5-methylcytosine and/or T may be replaced with U. Preferably, the internucleoside linkages are phosphodiester linkages. It will be recognized that when referring to (naturally occurring) nucleobases A, T, U, G, C, these may be substituted with nucleobase analogues which function as the equivalent natural nucleobase (e.g. base pair with the complementary nucleoside).

Other Linkers (Region Y)

The linker can have at least two functionalities, one for attaching to the oligonucleotide and the other for attaching to the conjugate moiety. Example linker functionalities can be electrophilic for reacting with nucleophilic groups on the oligonucleotide or conjugate moiety, or nucleophilic for reacting with electrophilic groups. In some embodiments, linker functionalities include amino, hydroxyl, carboxylic acid, thiol, phosphoramidate, phosphorothioate, phosphate, phosphite, unsaturations (e.g., double or triple bonds), and the like. Some example linkers (region Y) include 8-amino-3,6-dioxaoctanoic acid (ADO), succinimidyl 4-(N-maleimidomethyl)cyclohexane-l-carboxylate (SMCC), 6-aminohexanoic acid (AHEX or AHA), 6-aminohexyloxy, 4-aminobutyric acid, 4-aminocyclohexylcarboxylic acid, succinimidyl 4-(N-maleimidomethyl)cyclohexane-l-carboxy-(6-amido-caproate) (LCSMCC), succinimidyl m-maleimido-benzoylate (MBS), succinimidyl N-e-maleimido-caproylate (EMCS), succinimidyl 6-(beta-maleimido-propionamido) hexanoate (SMPH), succinimidyl N-(a-maleimido acetate) (AMAS), succinimidyl 4-(p-maleimidophenyl)butyrate (SMPB), beta-alanine (beta-ALA), phenylglycine (PHG), 4-aminocyclohexanoic acid (ACHC), beta-(cyclopropyl) alanine (beta-CYPR), amino dodecanoic acid (ADC), alylene diols, polyethylene glycols, amino acids, and the like. In some embodiments the linker (region Y) is an amino alkyl, such as a C2-C36 amino alkyl group, including, for example C6 to C12 amino alkyl groups. In a preferred embodiment the linker (region Y) is a C6 amino alkyl group. The amino alkyl group may be added to the oligonucleotide (region A or region A-B) as part of standard oligonucleotide synthesis, for example using a (e.g. protected) amino alkyl phosphoramidite. The linkage group between the amino alkyl and the oligonucleotide may for example be a phosphorothioate or a phosphodiester, or one of the other nucleoside linkage groups referred to herein. The amino alkyl group is covalently linked to the 5′ or 3′-end of the oligonucleotide. Commercially available amino alkyl linkers are for example 3′-Amino-Modifier reagent for linkage at the 3′-end of the oligonucleotide and for linkage at the 5′-end of an oligonucleotide 5′-Amino-Modifier C6 is available. These reagents are available from Glen Research Corporation (Sterling, Va.). These compounds or similar ones were utilized by Krieg, et al, Antisense Research and Development 1991, 1, 161 to link fluorescein to the 5′-terminus of an oligonucleotide. A wide variety of further linker groups are known in the art and can be useful in the attachment of conjugate moieties to oligonucleotides. A review of many of the useful linker groups can be found in, for example, Antisense Research and Applications, S. T. Crooke and B. Lebleu, Eds., CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla., 1993, p. 303-350. Other compounds such as acridine have been attached to the 3′-terminal phosphate group of an oligonucleotide via a polymethylene linkage (Asseline, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1984, 81, 3297). Any of the above groups can be used as a single linker (region Y) or in combination with one or more further linkers (region Y-Y′ or region Y-B or B-Y).

Linkers and their use in preparation of conjugates of oligonucleotides are provided throughout the art such as in WO 96/11205 and WO 98/52614 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,948,882; 5,525,465; 5,541,313; 5,545,730; 5,552,538; 5,580,731; 5,486,603; 5,608,046; 4,587,044; 4,667,025; 5,254,469; 5,245,022; 5,112,963; 5,391,723; 5,510475; 5,512,667; 5,574,142; 5,684,142; 5,770,716; 6,096,875; 6,335,432; and 6,335,437, WO 2012/083046 each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Method of Manufacture

In a further aspect, the invention provides methods for manufacturing the oligonucleotides of the invention comprising reacting nucleotide units and thereby forming covalently linked contiguous nucleotide units comprised in the oligonucleotide. Preferably, the method uses phophoramidite chemistry (see for example Caruthers et al, 1987, Methods in Enzymology vol. 154, pages 287-313). In a further embodiment the method further comprises reacting the contiguous nucleotide sequence with a conjugating moiety (ligand). In a further aspect a method is provided for manufacturing the composition of the invention, comprising mixing the oligonucleotide or conjugated oligonucleotide of the invention with a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, solvent, carrier, salt and/or adjuvant.

Pharmaceutical Composition

In a further aspect, the invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising any of the aforementioned oligonucleotides and/or oligonucleotide conjugates and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, solvent, carrier, salt and/or adjuvant. A pharmaceutically acceptable diluent includes phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts include, but are not limited to, sodium and potassium salts. In some embodiments the pharmaceutically acceptable diluent is sterile phosphate buffered saline. In some embodiments the oligonucleotide is used in the pharmaceutically acceptable diluent at a concentration of 50-300 μM solution.

Suitable formulations for use in the present invention are found in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mack Publishing Company, Philadelphia, Pa., 17th ed., 1985. For a brief review of methods for drug delivery, see, e.g., Langer (Science 249:1527-1533, 1990). WO 2007/031091 provides further suitable and preferred examples of pharmaceutically acceptable diluents, carriers and adjuvants (hereby incorporated by reference). Suitable dosages, formulations, administration routes, compositions, dosage forms, combinations with other therapeutic agents, pro-drug formulations are also provided in WO2007/031091.

Oligonucleotides or oligonucleotide conjugates of the invention may be mixed with pharmaceutically acceptable active or inert substances for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions or formulations. Compositions and methods for the formulation of pharmaceutical compositions are dependent upon a number of criteria, including, but not limited to, route of administration, extent of disease, or dose to be administered.

These compositions may be sterilized by conventional sterilization techniques, or may be sterile filtered. The resulting aqueous solutions may be packaged for use as is, or lyophilized, the lyophilized preparation being combined with a sterile aqueous carrier prior to administration. The pH of the preparations typically will be between 3 and 11, more preferably between 5 and 9 or between 6 and 8, and most preferably between 7 and 8, such as 7 to 7.5. The resulting compositions in solid form may be packaged in multiple single dose units, each containing a fixed amount of the above-mentioned agent or agents, such as in a sealed package of tablets or capsules. The composition in solid form can also be packaged in a container for a flexible quantity, such as in a squeezable tube designed for a topically applicable cream or ointment. In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide or oligonucleotide conjugate of the invention is a prodrug. In particular with respect to oligonucleotide conjugates the conjugate moiety is cleaved of the oligonucleotide once the prodrug is delivered to the site of action, e.g. the target cell.

Applications

The oligonucleotides or oligonucleotide conjugates of the present invention may be utilized as research reagents for, for example, diagnostics, therapeutics and prophylaxis.

In research, such oligonucleotides or oligonucleotide conjugates may be used to specifically modulate the synthesis of PD-L1 protein in cells (e.g. in vitro cell cultures) and experimental animals thereby facilitating functional analysis of the target or an appraisal of its usefulness as a target for therapeutic intervention. Typically the target modulation is achieved by degrading or inhibiting the mRNA producing the protein, thereby prevent protein formation or by degrading or inhibiting a modulator of the gene or mRNA producing the protein.

If employing the oligonucleotide of the invention in research or diagnostics the target nucleic acid may be a cDNA or a synthetic nucleic acid derived from DNA or RNA.

The present invention provides an in vivo or in vitro method for modulating PD-L1 expression in a target cell which is expressing PD-L1, said method comprising administering an oligonucleotide or oligonucleotide conjugate of the invention in an effective amount to said cell.

In some embodiments, the target cell, is a mammalian cell in particular a human cell. The target cell may be an in vitro cell culture or an in vivo cell forming part of a tissue in a mammal. In preferred embodiments the target cell is present in the liver. Liver target cell can be selected from parenchymal cells (e.g. hepatocytes) and non-parenchymal cells such as Kupffer cells, LSECs, stellate cells (or Ito cells), cholangiocytes and liver-associated leukocytes (including T cells and NK cells). In some embodiments the target cell is an antigen-presenting cell. Antigen-presenting cells displays foreign antigens complexed with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I or class II on their surfaces. In some embodiments the antigen-presenting cell expresses MHC class II (i.e. professional antigen-presenting cells such as dendritic cells, macrophages and B cells).

In diagnostics the oligonucleotides may be used to detect and quantitate PD-L1 expression in cell and tissues by northern blotting, in-situ hybridisation or similar techniques.

For therapeutics oligonucleotides or oligonucleotide conjugates of the present invention or pharmaceutical compositions thereof may be administered to an animal or a human, suspected of having a disease or disorder, which can be alleviated or treated by reduction of the expression of PD-L1, in particular by reduction of the expression of PD-L1 in liver target cells.

The invention provides methods for treating or preventing a disease, comprising administering a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of an oligonucleotide, an oligonucleotide conjugate or a pharmaceutical composition of the invention to a subject suffering from or susceptible to the disease.

The invention also relates to an oligonucleotide, oligonucleotide conjugate or a pharmaceutical composition according to the invention for use as a medicament.

The oligonucleotide, oligonucleotide conjugate or a pharmaceutical composition according to the invention is typically administered in an effective amount.

The invention also provides for the use of the oligonucleotide or oligonucleotide conjugate or pharmaceutical composition of the invention as described for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a disease or disorder as referred to herein. In one embodiment the disease is selected from a) viral liver infections such as HBV, HCV and HDV; b) parasite infections such as malaria, toxoplasmosis, leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis and c) liver cancer or metastases in the liver.

In one embodiment, the invention relates to oligonucleotides, oligonucleotide conjugates or pharmaceutical compositions for use in the treatment of diseases or disorders selected from viral or parasitic infections. In a further embodiment the disease is selected from a) viral liver infections such as HBV, HCV and HDV; b) parasite infections such as malaria, toxoplasmosis, leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis and c) liver cancer or metastases in the liver.

The disease or disorder, as referred to herein, is associated with immune exhaustion. In particular the disease or disorder is associated with exhaustion of virus-specific T-cell responses. In some embodiments disease or disorder may be alleviated or treated by reduction of PD-L1 expression.

The methods of the invention are preferably employed for treatment or prophylaxis against diseases associated with immune exhaustion.

In one embodiment of the invention the oligonucleotide, oligonucleotide conjugate or pharmaceutical compositions of the invention are used in restoration of immune response against a liver cancer or metastases in the liver.

In one embodiment of the invention the oligonucleotide, oligonucleotide conjugate or pharmaceutical compositions of the invention are used in restoration of immune response against a pathogen. In some embodiments the pathogen can be found in the liver. The pathogens can be a virus or a parasite, in particular those described herein. In a preferred embodiment the pathogen is HBV.

The invention further relates to use of an oligonucleotide, oligonucleotide conjugate or a pharmaceutical composition as defined herein for the manufacture of a medicament for the restoration of immunity against a viral or parasite infection as mentioned herein.

Oligonucleotides or oligonucleotide conjugates or pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention can be used in the treatment of viral infections, in particular viral infections in the liver where the PD-1 pathway is affected (see for example Kapoor and Kottilil 2014 Future Virol Vol. 9 pp. 565-585 and Salem and EI-Badawy 2015 World J Hepatol Vol. 7 pp. 2449-2458). Viral liver infections can be selected from the group consisting of hepatitis viruses, in particular HBV, HCV and HDV, in particular chronic forms of these infections. In one embodiment the oligonucleotides or oligonucleotide conjugates or pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention are used to treat HBV, in particular chronic HBV. Indicators of chronic HBV infections are high levels of viral load (HBV DNA) and even higher levels of empty HBsAg particles (>100-fold in excess of virions) in the circulation.

Oligonucleotides or oligonucleotide conjugates of the present invention can also be used to treat viral liver infections that occur as co-infections with HIV. Other viral infections which can be treated with the oligonucleotides or oligonucleotide conjugates or pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention are lcmv (Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus), and HIV as a mono infection, HSV-1 and -2, and other herpesviruses. These viruses are not hepatotrophic, however they may be sensitive to PDL1 down regulation.

In some embodiments the restoration of immunity or immune response involves improvement of the T-cell and/or NK cell response and/or alleviation of the T-cell exhaustion, in particular the HBV-specific T-cell response, the HCV-specific T-cell response and or the HDV-specific T-cell response is restored. An improvement of the T cell response can for example be assessed as an increase in T cells in the liver, in particular an increase in CD8+ and/or CD4+ T cells when compared to a control (e.g. the level prior to treatment or the level in a vehicle treated subject) In a further embodiment it is the virus specific CD8+ T cells that are restored or increased when compared to control), in particular HBV specific CD8+ T cells or HCV specific CD8+ T cells or HDV specific CD8+ T cells are restored or increased when compared to control. In a preferred embodiment CD8+ T cells specific for HBV s antigen (HBsAg) and/or CD8+ T cells specific for HBV e antigen (HBeAg) and/or CD8+ T cells specific for HBV core antigen (HBcAg) are increased in subjects treated with an oligonucleotide, oligonucleotide conjugate or pharmaceutical composition of the present invention compared to control. Preferably the HBV antigen specific CD8+ T cells produce one or more cytokines, such as interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) or tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). The increase in CD8+ T cells described above is in particular observed in the liver. The increase described herein should be statistically significant when compared to a control. Preferably the increase is at least 20%, such as 25%, such as 50% such as 75% when compared to control. In another embodiment natural killer (NK) cells and/or natural killer T (NKT) cells are activated by the oligonucleotides or oligonucleotide conjugates of the present invention.

Oligonucleotides or oligonucleotide conjugates or pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention can be used in the treatment parasite infections, in particular parasite infections where the PD-1 pathway is affected (see for example Bhadra et al. 2012 J Infect Dis vol 206 pp. 125-134; Bhadra et al. 2011 Proc Natl Acad Sci USA Vol. 108 pp. 9196-9201; Esch et al. J Immunol vol 191 pp 5542-5550; Freeman and Sharpe 2012 Nat Immunol Vol 13 pp. 113-115; Gutierrez et al. 2011 Infect Immun Vol 79 pp. 1873-1881; Joshi et al. 2009 PLoS Pathog Vol 5 e1000431; Liang et al. 2006 Eur J Immunol Vol. 36 pp 58-64; Wykes et al. 2014 Front Microbiol Vol 5 pp 249). Parasite infections can be selected from the group consisting of malaria, toxoplasmosis, leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis. Malaria infection is caused by protozoa of the genus Plasmodium, in particular of the species P. vivax, P. malariae and P. falciparum. Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii. Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. Trypanosomiasis is caused by the protozoan of the genus Trypanosoma. Chaga disease which is the tropical form caused by the species Trypanosoma cruzi, and sleeping disease is caused by the species Trypanosoma brucei.

In some embodiments the restoration of immunity involves restoration of a parasite-specific T cell and NK cell response, in particular a Plasmodium-specific T-cell response, a Toxoplasma gondii-specific T-cell and NK cell response, a Leishmania-specific T-cell and NK cell response, a Trypanosoma cruzi-specific T-cell and NK cell response or a Trypanosoma brucei-specific T-cell and NK cell response. In a further embodiment it is the parasite-specific CD8+ T cell and NK cell response that is restored.

Administration

The oligonucleotides or pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may be administered topical (such as, to the skin, inhalation, ophthalmic or otic) or enteral (such as, orally or through the gastrointestinal tract) or parenteral (such as, intravenous, subcutaneous, intra-muscular, intracerebral, intracerebroventricular or intrathecal).

In a preferred embodiment the oligonucleotide or pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention are administered by a parenteral route including intravenous, intraarterial, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal or intramuscular injection or infusion, intrathecal or intracranial, e.g. intracerebral or intraventricular, intravitreal administration. In one embodiment the active oligonucleotide or oligonucleotide conjugate is administered intravenously. In another embodiment the active oligonucleotide or oligonucleotide conjugate is administered subcutaneously.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide, oligonucleotide conjugate or pharmaceutical composition of the invention is administered at a dose of 0.1-15 mg/kg, such as from 0.1-10 mg/kg, such as from 0.2-10 mg/kg, such as from 0.25-10 mg/kg, such as from 0.1-5 mg/kg, such as from 0.2-5 mg/kg, such as from 0.25-5 mg/kg. The administration can be once a week, every 2^(nd) week, every third week or even once a month.

Combination Therapies

In some embodiments the oligonucleotide, oligonucleotide conjugate or pharmaceutical composition of the invention is for use in a combination treatment with another therapeutic agent. The therapeutic agent can for example be the standard of care for the diseases or disorders described above.

For the treatment of chronic HBV infections a combination of antiviral drugs and immune system modulators is recommended as standard of care. The antiviral drugs effective against HBV are for example nucleos(t)ide analogs. There are five nucleos(t)ide analogs licensed for therapy of HBV namely lamivudine (Epivir), adefovir (Hepsera), tenofovir (Viread), telbivudine (Tyzeka), entecavir (Baraclude) these are effective in suppressing viral replication (HBV DNA) but have no effect on HBsAg levels. Other antiviral drugs include ribavirin and an HBV antibody therapy (monoclonal or polyclonal). The immune system modulators can for example be interferon alpha-2a and PEGylated interferon alpha-2a (Pegasys) or TLR7 agonists (e.g. GS-9620) or therapeutic vaccines. IFN-α treatment show only very modest effect in reducing viral load, but result in some HBsAg decline, albeit very inefficiently (<10% after 48 week therapy).

The oligonucleotide or oligonucleotide conjugates of the present invention may also be combined with other antiviral drugs effective against HBV such as the antisense oligonucleotides described in WO2012/145697 and WO 2014/179629 or the siRNA molecules described in WO 2005/014806, WO 2012/024170, WO 2012/2055362, WO 2013/003520 and WO 2013/159109.

When the oligonucleotides or oligonucleotide conjugates of this invention are administered in combination therapies with other agents, they may be administered sequentially or concurrently to an individual. Alternatively, pharmaceutical compositions according to the present invention may be comprised of a combination of an oligonucleotide or oligonucleotide conjugate of the present invention in association with a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, as described herein, and another therapeutic or prophylactic agent known in the art.

Embodiments

The following embodiments of the present invention may be used in combination with any other embodiments described herein.

1. An antisense oligonucleotide which comprises or consists of a contiguous nucleotide sequence of 10 to 30 nucleotides in length capable of reducing the expression of PD-L1.

2. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 1, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence is at least 90% complementarity to a PD-L1 target nucleic acid.

3. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence is complementary to a target nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2 and/or SEQ ID NO: 3.

4. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 1 to 3, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence is complementary to a region within position 1 and 15720 on SEQ ID NO: 1.

5. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 1 to 4, wherein the oligonucleotide is capable of hybridizing to a target nucleic acid of selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2 and/or SEQ ID NO: 3 with a ΔG° below −10 kcal.

6. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 1 to 5, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence is complementary to a sub-sequence of the target nucleic acid, wherein the sub-sequence is selected from the group consisting of position 371-3068, 5467-12107, 15317-15720, 15317-18083, 15317-19511 and 18881-19494 on SEQ ID NO: 1.

7. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 6, wherein the sub-sequence is selected from the group consisting of position 7300-7333, 8028-8072, 9812-9859, 11787-11873 and 15690-15735 on SEQ ID NO: 1.

8. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 2 to 7, wherein the target nucleic acid is RNA.

9. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 8, wherein the RNA is mRNA.

10. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 9, wherein the mRNA is pre-mRNA or mature mRNA.

11. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 1-10, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises or consists of at least 14 contiguous nucleotides, particularly 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 or 24 contiguous nucleotides.

12. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 1-10, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises or consists of from 16 to 20 nucleotides.

13. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 1-10, wherein the oligonucleotide comprises or consists of 14 to 35 nucleotides in length.

14. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 13, wherein the oligonucleotide comprises or consists of 18 to 22 nucleotides in length.

15. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 1-14, wherein the oligonucleotide or contiguous nucleotide sequence is single stranded.

16. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 1-15, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence is complementary to a sub-sequence of the target nucleic acid, wherein the subsequence is selected from the group consisting of A7, A26, A43, A119, A142, A159, A160, A163, A169, A178, A179, A180, A189, A201, A202, A204, A214, A221, A224, A226, A243, A254, A258, 269, A274, A350, A360, A364, A365, A370, A372, A381, A383, A386, A389, A400, A427, A435 and A438.

17. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 16, wherein the subsequence is selected from the group consisting of A221, A360, A180, A160 and A269.

18. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 1-17, wherein the oligonucleotide is not siRNA and is not self-complementary.

19. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 1-18, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises or consists of a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 5 to 743 or 771.

20. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 1-19, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises or consists of a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 6, 8, 9, 13, 41, 42, 58, 77, 92, 111, 128, 151, 164, 166, 169, 171, 222, 233, 245, 246, 250, 251, 252, 256, 272, 273, 287, 292, 303, 314, 318, 320, 324, 336, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, 349, 359, 360, 374, 408, 409, 415, 417, 424, 429, 430, 458, 464, 466, 474, 490, 493, 512, 519, 519, 529, 533, 534, 547, 566, 567, 578, 582, 601, 619, 620, 636, 637, 638, 640, 645, 650, 651, 652, 653, 658, 659, 660, 665, 678, 679, 680, 682, 683, 684, 687, 694, 706, 716, 728, 733, 734, and 735.

21. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 1-20, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises or consists of a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 466, 640, 342, 287 and 566.

22. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 1-21 wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence has zero to three mismatches compared to the target nucleic acid it is complementary to.

23. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 22, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence has one mismatch compared to the target nucleic acid.

24. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 22, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence has two mismatches compared to the target nucleic acid.

25. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 22, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence is fully complementary to the target nucleic acid sequence.

26. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 1-25, comprising one or more modified nucleosides.

27. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 26, wherein the one or more modified nucleoside is a high-affinity modified nucleosides.

28. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 26 or 27, wherein the one or more modified nucleoside is a 2′ sugar modified nucleoside.

29. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 28, wherein the one or more 2′ sugar modified nucleoside is independently selected from the group consisting of 2′-O-alkyl-RNA, 2′-O-methyl-RNA, 2′-alkoxy-RNA, 2′-O-methoxyethyl-RNA, 2′-amino-DNA, 2′-fluoro-DNA, 2′-fluoro-ANA and LNA nucleosides.

30. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 28, wherein the one or more modified nucleoside is a LNA nucleoside.

31. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 30, wherein the modified LNA nucleoside is oxy-LNA.

32. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 31, wherein the modified nucleoside is beta-D-oxy-LNA.

33. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 30, wherein the modified nucleoside is thio-LNA.

34. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 30, wherein the modified nucleoside is amino-LNA.

35. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 30, wherein the modified nucleoside is cET.

36. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 30, wherein the modified nucleoside is ENA.

37. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 30, wherein the modified LNA nucleoside is selected from beta-D-oxy-LNA, alpha-L-oxy-LNA, beta-D-amino-LNA, alpha-L-amino-LNA, beta-D-thio-LNA, alpha-L-thio-LNA, (S)cET, (R)cET beta-D-ENA and alpha-L-ENA.

38. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 30-37, wherein there in addition to the modified LNA nucleoside is at least one 2′ substituted modified nucleoside.

39. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 38, wherein the 2′ substituted modified nucleoside is selected from the group consisting of 2′-O-alkyl-RNA, 2′-O-methyl-RNA, 2′-alkoxy-RNA, 2′-O-methoxyethyl-RNA (MOE), 2′-amino-DNA, 2′-fluoro-DNA, 2′-fluoro-ANA.

40. The oligonucleotide of any one of embodiments 1-39, wherein the oligonucleotide comprises at least one modified internucleoside linkage.

41. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 40, wherein the modified internucleoside linkage is nuclease resistant.

42. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 40 or 41, wherein at least 50% of the internucleoside linkages within the contiguous nucleotide sequence are phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages or boranophosphate internucleoside linkages.

43. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 40 or 41, wherein all the internucleoside linkages within the contiguous nucleotide sequence are phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages.

44. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 1-43, wherein the oligonucleotide is capable of recruiting RNase H.

45. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 44, wherein the oligonucleotide is a gapmer.

46. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 44 or 45, wherein the oligonucleotide is a gapmer of formula 5′-F-G-F′-3′, where region F and F′ independently comprise or consist of 1-7 modified nucleosides and G is a region between 6 and 16 nucleosides which are capable of recruiting RNaseH.

47. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 44 or 45, wherein the gapmer has formula 5′-D′-F-G-F′-3′ or 5′-F-G-F′-D″-3′, where region F and F′ independently comprise 1-7 modified nucleosides, G is a region between 6 and 16 nucleosides which are capable of recruiting RNaseH and region D′ or D″ comprise 1-5 phosphodiester linked nucleosides.

48. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 47, wherein D′ or D″ are optional.

49. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 47, wherein region D′ consist of two phosphodiester linked nucleosides.

50. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 49, wherein the phosphodiester linked nucleosides are ca (cytidine-adenosine).

51. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 46 or 47, wherein the modified nucleoside is a 2′ sugar modified nucleoside independently selected from the group consisting of 2′-O-alkyl-RNA, 2′-O-methyl-RNA, 2′-alkoxy-RNA, 2′-O-methoxyethyl-RNA, 2′-amino-DNA, 2′-fluoro-DNA, arabino nucleic acid (ANA), 2′-fluoro-ANA and LNA nucleosides.

52. The oligonucleotide of embodiments 46 to 51, wherein one or more of the modified nucleosides in region F and F′ is a LNA nucleoside.

53. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 52, wherein all the modified nucleosides in region F and F′ are LNA nucleosides.

54. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 53, wherein region F and F′ consist of LNA nucleosides.

55. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 52-54, wherein all the modified nucleosides in region F and F′ are oxy-LNA nucleosides.

56. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 52, wherein at least one of region F or F′ further comprises at least one 2′ substituted modified nucleoside independently selected from the group consisting of 2′-O-alkyl-RNA, 2′-O-methyl-RNA, 2′-alkoxy-RNA, 2′-O-methoxyethyl-RNA, 2′-amino-DNA and 2′-fluoro-DNA.

57. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 46-56, wherein the RNaseH recruiting nucleosides in region G are independently selected from DNA, alpha-L-LNA, C4′ alkylated DNA, ANA and 2′F-ANA and UNA.

58. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 57, wherein the nucleosides in region G is DNA and/or alpha-L-LNA nucleosides.

59. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 57 or 58, wherein region G consists of at least 75% DNA nucleosides.

60. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 1-59, wherein the oligonucleotide is selected from any one of the CMP ID NO: 5_1 to 743_1 and 771_1 (table 5).

61. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 1-60, wherein the oligonucleotide is selected from the group consisting of CMP ID NO: 6_1, 8_1, 9_1, 13_1, 41_1, 42_1, 58_1, 77_1, 92_1, 111_1, 128_1, 151_1, 164_1, 166_1, 169_1, 171_1, 222_1, 233_1, 245_1, 246_1, 250_1, 251_1, 252_1, 256_1, 272_1, 273_1, 287_1, 292_1, 303_1, 314_1, 318_1, 320_1, 324_1, 336_1, 342_1, 343_1, 344_1, 345_1, 346_1, 349_1, 359_1, 360_1, 374_1, 408_1, 409_1, 415_1, 417_1, 424_1, 429_1, 430_1, 458_1, 464_1, 466_1, 474_1, 490_1, 493_1, 512_1, 519_1, 519_1, 529_1, 533_1, 534_1, 547_1, 566_1, 567_1, 578_1, 582_1, 601_1, 619_1, 620_1, 636_1, 637_1, 638_1, 640_1, 645_1, 650_1, 651_1, 652_1, 653_1, 658_1, 659_1, 660_1, 665_1, 678_1, 679_1, 680_1, 682_1, 683_1, 684_1, 687_1, 694_1, 706_1, 716_1, 728_1, 733_1, 734_1, and 735_1.

62. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 1-61, wherein the oligonucleotide is selected from the group consisting of CMP ID NO: 287_1, 342_1, 466_1, 640_1, 566_1, 766_1, 767_1, 768_1, 769_1 and 770_1.

63. An antisense oligonucleotide conjugate comprising

-   -   a. an oligonucleotide according to any one of claims 1-62         (Region A); and     -   b. at least one at least one conjugate moiety (Region C)         covalently attached to said oligonucleotide.

64. The oligonucleotide conjugate of embodiment 63, wherein the conjugate moiety is selected from carbohydrates, cell surface receptor ligands, drug substances, hormones, lipophilic substances, polymers, proteins, peptides, toxins, vitamins, viral proteins or combinations thereof.

65. The oligonucleotide conjugate of embodiment 63 or 64, wherein the conjugate moiety is a carbohydrate containing moiety.

66. The oligonucleotide conjugate of embodiment 65, wherein the carbohydrate conjugate moiety comprises at least one asialoglycoprotein receptor targeting moiety covalently attached to an oligonucleotide according to any one of claims 1-62.

67. The oligonucleotide conjugate of embodiment 66, wherein the asialoglycoprotein receptor targeting conjugate moiety comprises at least one carbohydrate moiety selected from group consisting of galactose, galactosamine, N-formyl-galactosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine, N-propionyl-galactosamine, N-n-butanoyl-galactosamine and N-isobutanoylgalactosamine.

68. The oligonucleotide conjugate of embodiment 66 or 67, wherein the asialoglycoprotein receptor targeting conjugate moiety is mono-valent, di-valent, tri-valent or tetra-valent.

69. The oligomer conjugate of embodiment 68, wherein the asialoglycoprotein receptor targeting conjugate moiety consists of two to four terminal GalNAc moieties, a PEG spacer linking each GalNAc moiety to a brancher molecule.

70. The oligonucleotide conjugate of embodiment 66 to 69, wherein the asialoglycoprotein receptor targeting conjugate moiety is a tri-valent N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) moiety.

71. The oligonucleotide conjugate of embodiment 66 to 70, wherein the conjugate moiety is selected from one of the trivalent GalNAc moieties in FIG. 1.

72. The oligonucleotide conjugate of embodiment 71, wherein the conjugate moiety is the trivalent GalNAc moiety in FIG. 3.

73. The oligonucleotide conjugate of embodiment 63-72, where a linker is present between the oligonucleotide or contiguous oligonucleotide sequence and the conjugate moiety.

74. The oligonucleotide conjugate of embodiment 73, wherein the linker is a physiologically labile linker (region B).

75. The oligonucleotide conjugate of embodiment 74, wherein the physiologically labile linker is nuclease susceptible linker.

76. The oligonucleotide conjugate of embodiment 74 or 75, wherein the physiologically labile linker is composed of 2 to 5 consecutive phosphodiester linkages.

77. The oligonucleotide conjugate of embodiment 76, wherein the physiologically labile linker is equivalent to region D′ or D″ presented in embodiment 47 to 50.

78. The oligonucleotide conjugate of any one of embodiments 63-77, wherein the oligonucleotide conjugate is selected from CMP ID NO: 766_2, 767_2, 768_2, 769_2 and 770_2.

79. The oligonucleotide conjugate of embodiment 78, wherein the oligonucleotide conjugate is selected from the oligonucleotide conjugated represented in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

80. The oligonucleotide conjugate of embodiment 63-76, which display improved inhibition of PD-L1 in the target cell, or improved cellular distribution between liver and the spleen or improved cellular uptake into the liver of the conjugate oligonucleotide as compared to an unconjugated oligonucleotide.

81. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the oligonucleotide of embodiment 1-62 or a conjugate of embodiment 63-80 and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, carrier, salt and/or adjuvant.

82. A method for manufacturing the oligonucleotide of embodiment 1-62, comprising reacting nucleotide units thereby forming covalently linked contiguous nucleotide units comprised in the oligonucleotide.

83. The method of embodiment 82, further comprising reacting the contiguous nucleotide sequence with a non-nucleotide conjugation moiety.

84. A method for manufacturing the composition of embodiment 81, comprising mixing the oligonucleotide with a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, carrier, salt and/or adjuvant.

85. An in vivo or in vitro method for modulating PD-L1 expression in a target cell which is expressing PD-L1, said method comprising administering an oligonucleotide of embodiment 1-62 or a conjugate of embodiment 63-80 or the pharmaceutical composition of embodiment 81 in an effective amount to said cell.

86. A method for treating or preventing a disease comprising administering a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of an oligonucleotide of embodiment 1-62 or a conjugate of embodiment 63-80 or the pharmaceutical composition of embodiment 81 to a subject suffering from or susceptible to the disease.

87. A method for restoration of immunity against a virus or parasite comprising administering a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of an oligonucleotide conjugate of embodiment 63-80 or the oligonucleotide of embodiment 1-62 or the pharmaceutical composition of embodiment 81 to a subject infected with a virus or parasite.

88. The method of embodiment 87, the restoration of immunity is an increase in the liver of CD8+ T cells specific to one or more HBV antigens when compared to a control.

89. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 1-62 or a conjugate of embodiment 63-80 or the pharmaceutical composition of embodiment 81, for use as a medicament for treatment or prevention of a disease in a subject.

90. Use of the oligonucleotide of oligonucleotide of embodiment 1-62 or a conjugate of embodiment 63-80 for the preparation of a medicament for treatment or prevention of a disease in a subject.

91. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 1-62 or a conjugate of embodiment 63-80 or the pharmaceutical composition of embodiment 81, for use in restoration of immunity against a virus or parasite.

92. The use of embodiment 91, wherein the restoration of immunity is an increase in the liver of CD8+ T cells specific to one or more HBV antigens when compared to a control.

93. The use of embodiment 92, wherein the HBV antigen is the HBsAg.

94. The method, the oligonucleotide or the use of embodiments 86-93, wherein the disease is associated with in vivo activity of PD-L1.

95. The method, the oligonucleotide or the use of embodiments 86-94, wherein the disease is associated with increased expression of PD-L1 in an antigen presenting cell.

96. The method, the oligonucleotide or the use of embodiments 95, wherein the PD-L1 is reduced by at least 30%, or at least or at least 40%, or at least 50%, or at least 60%, or at least 70%, or at least 80%, or at least 90%, or at least 95% compared to the expression without or before treatment with the oligonucleotide of embodiment 1-62 or a conjugate of embodiment 63-80 or the pharmaceutical composition of embodiment 81.

97. The method, the oligonucleotide or the use of embodiments 86-95, wherein the disease is selected from a viral liver infection or a parasite infections.

98. The method, the oligonucleotide or the use of embodiment 98, wherein the viral infection is HBV, HCV or HDV.

99. The method, the oligonucleotide or the use of embodiment 86-95, wherein the disease is chronic HBV.

100. The method, the oligonucleotide or the use of embodiment 98, wherein the parasite infection is malaria, toxoplasmosis, leishmaniasis or trypanosomiasis.

101. The method, the oligonucleotide or the use of embodiments 86-100, wherein the subject is a mammal.

102. The method, the oligonucleotide or the use of embodiment 101, wherein the mammal is human.

EXAMPLES Materials and Methods Motif Sequences and Oligonucleotide Compounds

TABLE 5 list of oligonucleotide motif sequences (indicated by SEQ ID NO) targeting the human PD-L1 transcript (SEQ ID NO: 1), designs of these, as well as specific antisense oligonucleotide compounds (indicated by CMP ID NO) designed based on the motif sequence. SEQ Oligonucleotide CMP Start ID ID NO Motif sequence Design Compound ID NO NO: 1 dG 5 taattggctctactgc 2-11-3 TAattggctctacTGC   5_1 236 −20 6 tcgcataagaatgact 4-10-2 TCGCataagaatgaCT   6_1 371 −19 7 tgaacacacagtcgca 2-12-2 TGaacacacagtcgCA   7_1 382 −19 8 ctgaacacacagtcgc 3-10-3 CTGaacacacagtCGC   8_1 383 −22 9 tctgaacacacagtcg 3-11-2 TCTgaacacacagtCG   9_1 384 −19 10 ttctgaacacacagtc 3-11-2 TTCtgaacacacagTC  10_1 385 −17 11 acaagtcatgttacta 2-11-3 ACaagtcatgttaCTA  11_1 463 −16 12 acacaagtcatgttac 2-12-2 ACacaagtcatgttAC  12_1 465 −14 13 cttacttagatgctgc 2-11-3 CTtacttagatgcTGC  13_1 495 −20 14 acttacttagatgctg 2-11-3 ACttacttagatgCTG  14_1 496 −18 15 gacttacttagatgct 3-11-2 GACttacttagatgCT  15_1 497 −19 16 agacttacttagatgc 2-11-3 AGacttacttagaTGC  16_1 498 −18 17 gcaggaagagacttac 3-10-3 GCAggaagagactTAC  17_1 506 −20 18 aataaattccgttcagg 4-9-4 AATAaattccgttCAGG  18_1 541 −22 19 gcaaataaattccgtt 3-10-3 GCAaataaattccGTT  19_2 545 −18 19 gcaaataaattccgtt 4-8-4 GCAAataaattcCGTT  19_1 545 −20 20 agcaaataaattccgt 4-9-3 AGCAaataaattcCGT  20_1 546 −20 21 cagagcaaataaattcc 4-10-3 CAGAgcaaataaatTCC  21_1 548 −21 22 tggacagagcaaataaat 4-11-3 TGGAcagagcaaataAAT  22_1 551 −19 23 atggacagagcaaata 4-8-4 ATGGacagagcaAATA  23_1 554 −20 24 cagaatggacagagca 2-11-3 CAgaatggacagaGCA  24_1 558 −21 25 ttctcagaatggacag 3-11-2 TTCtcagaatggacAG  25_1 562 −17 26 ctgaactttgacatag 4-8-4 CTGAactttgacATAG  26_1 663 −20 27 aagacaaacccagactga 2-13-3 AAgacaaacccagacTGA  27_1 675 −21 28 tataagacaaacccagac 4-10-4 TATAagacaaacccAGAC  28_1 678 −22 29 ttataagacaaacccaga 4-10-4 TTATaagacaaaccCAGA  29_1 679 −23 30 tgttataagacaaaccc 4-10-3 TGTTataagacaaaCCC  30_1 682 −22 31 tagaacaatggtacttt 4-9-4 TAGAacaatggtaCTTT  31_1 708 −20 32 gtagaacaatggtact 4-10-2 GTAGaacaatggtaCT  32_1 710 −19 33 aggtagaacaatggta 3-10-3 AGGtagaacaatgGTA  33_1 712 −19 34 aagaggtagaacaatgg 4-9-4 AAGAggtagaacaATGG  34_1 714 −21 35 gcatccacagtaaatt 2-12-2 GCatccacagtaaaTT  35_1 749 −17 36 gaaggttatttaattc 2-11-3 GAaggttatttaaTTC  36_1 773 −13 37 ctaatcgaatgcagca 4-9-3 CTAAtcgaatgcaGCA  37_1 805 −22 38 tacccaatctaatcga 3-10-3 TACccaatctaatCGA  38_1 813 −20 39 tagttacccaatctaa 3-10-3 TAGttacccaatcTAA  39_1 817 −19 40 catttagttacccaat 3-10-3 CATttagttacccAAT  40_1 821 −18 41 tcatttagttacccaa 3-10-3 TCAtttagttaccCAA  41_1 822 −19 42 ttcatttagttaccca 2-10-4 TTcatttagttaCCCA  42_1 823 −22 43 gaattaatttcatttagt 4-10-4 GAATtaatttcattTAGT  43_1 829 −19 44 cagtgaggaattaattt 4-9-4 CAGTgaggaattaATTT  44_1 837 −20 45 ccaacagtgaggaatt 4-8-4 CCAAcagtgaggAATT  45_1 842 −21 46 cccaacagtgaggaat 3-10-3 CCCaacagtgaggAAT  46_1 843 −22 47 tatacccaacagtgagg 2-12-3 TAtacccaacagtgAGG  47_1 846 −21 48 ttatacccaacagtgag 2-11-4 TTatacccaacagTGAG  48_1 847 −21 49 tttatacccaacagtga 3-11-3 TTTatacccaacagTGA  49_1 848 −21 50 cctttatacccaacag 3-10-3 CCTttatacccaaCAG  50_1 851 −23 51 taacctttatacccaa 4-8-4 TAACctttatacCCAA  51_1 854 −22 52 aataacctttataccca 3-10-4 AATaacctttataCCCA  52_1 855 −23 53 gtaaataacctttata 3-11-2 GTAaataacctttaTA  53_1 859 −14 54 actgtaaataacctttat 4-10-4 ACTGtaaataacctTTAT  54_1 860 −20 55 atatatatgcaatgag 3-11-2 ATAtatatgcaatgAG  55_1 903 −14 56 agatatatatgcaatg 2-12-2 AGatatatatgcaaTG  56_1 905 −12 57 gagatatatatgcaat 3-10-3 GAGatatatatgcAAT  57_1 906 −15 58 ccagagatatatatgc 2-11-3 CCagagatatataTGC  58_1 909 −19 59 caatattccagagatat 4-9-4 CAATattccagagATAT  59_1 915 −20 60 gcaatattccagagata 4-10-3 GCAAtattccagagATA  60_1 916 −22 61 agcaatattccagagat 3-11-3 AGCaatattccagaGAT  61_1 917 −22 62 cagcaatattccagag 3-9-4 CAGcaatattccAGAG  62_1 919 −22 63 aatcagcaatattccag 4-9-4 AATCagcaatattCCAG  63_1 921 −23 64 acaatcagcaatattcc 4-9-4 ACAAtcagcaataTTCC  64_1 923 −21 65 actaagtagttacacttct 2-14-3 ACtaagtagttacactTCT  65_1 957 −20 66 ctaagtagttacacttc 4-11-2 CTAAgtagttacactTC  66_1 958 −18 67 gactaagtagttacactt 3-12-3 GACtaagtagttacaCTT  67_1 959 −20 68 tgactaagtagttaca 3-9-4 TGActaagtagtTACA  68_1 962 −19 69 ctttgactaagtagtta 4-10-3 CTTTgactaagtagTTA  69_1 964 −19 70 ctctttgactaagtag 3-10-3 CTCtttgactaagTAG  70_1 967 −19 71 gctctttgactaagta 4-10-2 GCTCtttgactaagTA  71_1 968 −21 72 ccttaaatactgttgac 2-11-4 CCttaaatactgtTGAC  72_1 1060 −20 73 cttaaatactgttgac 2-12-2 CTtaaatactgttgAC  73_1 1060 −13 74 tccttaaatactgttg 3-10-3 TCCttaaatactgTTG  74_1 1062 −18 75 tctccttaaatactgtt 4-11-2 TCTCcttaaatactgTT  75_1 1063 −19 76 tatcatagttctcctt 2-10-4 TAtcatagttctCCTT  76_1 1073 −21 77 agtatcatagttctcc 3-10-3 AGTatcatagttcTCC  77_1 1075 −22 78 gagtatcatagttctc 2-11-3 GAgtatcatagttCTC  78_1 1076 −18 79 agagtatcatagttct 2-10-4 AGagtatcatagTTCT  79_1 1077 −18 79 agagtatcatagttct 3-10-3 AGAgtatcatagtTCT  79_2 1077 −19 80 cagagtatcatagttc 3-10-3 CAGagtatcatagTTC  80_1 1078 −18 81 ttcagagtatcatagt 4-10-2 TTCAgagtatcataGT  81_1 1080 −18 82 cttcagagtatcatag 3-9-4 CTTcagagtatcATAG  82_1 1081 −19 83 ttcttcagagtatcata 4-11-2 TTCTtcagagtatcaTA  83_1 1082 −19 84 tttcttcagagtatcat 3-10-4 TTTcttcagagtaTCAT  84_1 1083 −20 85 gagaaaggctaagttt 4-9-3 GAGAaaggctaagTTT  85_1 1099 −19 86 gacactcttgtacatt 2-10-4 GAcactcttgtaCATT  86_1 1213 −19 87 tgagacactcttgtaca 2-13-2 TGagacactcttgtaCA  87_1 1215 −18 88 tgagacactcttgtac 2-11-3 TGagacactcttgTAC  88_1 1216 −18 89 ctttattaaactccat 2-10-4 CTttattaaactCCAT  89_1 1266 −18 90 accaaactttattaaa 4-10-2 ACCAaactttattaAA  90_1 1272 −14 91 aaacctctactaagtg 4-10-2 AAACctctactaagTG  91_1 1288 −16 92 agattaagacagttga 2-11-3 AGattaagacagtTGA  92_1 1310 −16 93 aagtaggagcaagaggc 2-12-3 AAgtaggagcaagaGGC  93_1 1475 −22 94 aaagtaggagcaagagg 4-10-3 AAAGtaggagcaagAGG  94_1 1476 −20 95 gttaagcagccaggag 2-12-2 GTtaagcagccaggAG  95_1 1806 −20 96 agggtaggatgggtag 2-12-2 AGggtaggatgggtAG  96_1 1842 −20 97 aagggtaggatgggta 3-11-2 AAGggtaggatgggTA  97_1 1843 −20 98 caagggtaggatgggt 2-12-2 CAagggtaggatggGT  98_2 1844 −20 98 caagggtaggatgggt 3-11-2 CAAgggtaggatggGT  98_1 1844 −21 99 ccaagggtaggatggg 2-12-2 CCaagggtaggatgGG  99_1 1845 −22 100 tccaagggtaggatgg 2-12-2 TCcaagggtaggatGG 100_1 1846 −20 101 cttccaagggtaggat 4-10-2 CTTCcaagggtaggAT 101_1 1848 −21 102 atcttccaagggtagga 3-12-2 ATCttccaagggtagGA 102_1 1849 −22 103 agaagtgatggctcatt 2-11-4 AGaagtgatggctCATT 103_1 1936 −21 104 aagaagtgatggctcat 3-10-4 AAGaagtgatggcTCAT 104_1 1937 −21 105 gaagaagtgatggctca 3-11-3 GAAgaagtgatggcTCA 105_1 1938 −21 106 atgaaatgtaaactggg 4-9-4 ATGAaatgtaaacTGGG 106_1 1955 −21 107 caatgaaatgtaaactgg 4-10-4 CAATgaaatgtaaaCTGG 107_1 1956 −20 108 gcaatgaaatgtaaactg 4-10-4 GCAAtgaaatgtaaACTG 108_1 1957 −20 109 agcaatgaaatgtaaact 4-10-4 AGCAatgaaatgtaAACT 109_1 1958 −20 110 gagcaatgaaatgtaaac 4-10-4 GAGCaatgaaatgtAAAC 110_1 1959 −19 111 tgaattcccatatccga 2-12-3 TGaattcccatatcCGA 111_1 1992 −22 112 agaattatgaccatat 2-11-3 AGaattatgaccaTAT 112_1 2010 −15 113 aggtaagaattatgacc 3-10-4 AGGtaagaattatGACC 113_1 2014 −21 114 tcaggtaagaattatgac 4-10-4 TCAGgtaagaattaTGAC 114_1 2015 −22 115 cttcaggtaagaattatg 4-10-4 CTTCaggtaagaatTATG 115_1 2017 −21 116 tcttcaggtaagaatta 4-9-4 TCTTcaggtaagaATTA 116_1 2019 −20 117 cttcttcaggtaagaat 4-9-4 CTTCttcaggtaaGAAT 117_1 2021 −21 118 tcttcttcaggtaagaa 4-10-3 TCTTcttcaggtaaGAA 118_1 2022 −20 119 tcttcttcaggtaaga 3-10-3 TCTtcttcaggtaAGA 119_1 2023 −20 120 tggtctaagagaagaag 3-10-4 TGGtctaagagaaGAAG 120_1 2046 −20 121 gttggtctaagagaag 4-9-3 GTTGgtctaagagAAG 121_1 2049 −19 123 cagttggtctaagagaa 2-11-4 CAgttggtctaagAGAA 123_1 2050 −20 124 gcagttggtctaagagaa 3-13-2 GCAgttggtctaagagAA 124_1 2050 −22 122 agttggtctaagagaa 3-9-4 AGTtggtctaagAGAA 122_1 2050 −20 126 gcagttggtctaagaga 2-13-2 GCagttggtctaagaGA 126_1 2051 −21 125 cagttggtctaagaga 4-10-2 CAGTtggtctaagaGA 125_1 2051 −21 127 gcagttggtctaagag 2-11-3 GCagttggtctaaGAG 127_1 2052 −21 128 ctcatatcagggcagt 2-10-4 CTcatatcagggCAGT 128_1 2063 −24 129 cacacatgttctttaac 4-11-2 CACAcatgttctttaAC 129_1 2087 −18 130 taaatacacacatgttct 3-11-4 TAAatacacacatgTTCT 130_1 2092 −19 131 gtaaatacacacatgttc 4-11-3 GTAAatacacacatgTTC 131_1 2093 −19 132 tgtaaatacacacatgtt 4-10-4 TGTAaatacacacaTGTT 132_1 2094 −22 133 gatcatgtaaatacacac 4-10-4 GATCatgtaaatacACAC 133_1 2099 −20 134 agatcatgtaaatacaca 4-10-4 AGATcatgtaaataCACA 134_1 2100 −21 135 caaagatcatgtaaatacac 4-12-4 CAAAgatcatgtaaatACAC 135_1 2101 −19 136 acaaagatcatgtaaataca 4-12-4 ACAAagatcatgtaaaTACA 136_1 2102 −20 137 gaatacaaagatcatgta 4-10-4 GAATacaaagatcaTGTA 137_1 2108 −20 138 agaatacaaagatcatgt 4-10-4 AGAAtacaaagatcATGT 138_1 2109 −20 139 cagaatacaaagatcatg 4-10-4 CAGAatacaaagatCATG 139_1 2110 −21 140 gcagaatacaaagatca 4-9-4 GCAGaatacaaagATCA 140_1 2112 −22 141 aggcagaatacaaagat 4-11-2 AGGCagaatacaaagAT 141_1 2114 −19 142 aaggcagaatacaaaga 4-10-3 AAGGcagaatacaaAGA 142_1 2115 −19 143 attagtgagggacgaa 3-10-3 ATTagtgagggacGAA 143_1 2132 −18 144 cattagtgagggacga 2-11-3 CAttagtgagggaCGA 144_1 2133 −20 145 gagggtgatggattag 2-11-3 GAgggtgatggatTAG 145_1 2218 −19 146 ttaggagtaataaagg 2-10-4 TTaggagtaataAAGG 146_1 2241 −14 147 ttaatgaatttggttg 3-11-2 TTAatgaatttggtTG 147_1 2263 −13 148 ctttaatgaatttggt 2-12-2 CTttaatgaatttgGT 148_1 2265 −14 149 catggattacaactaa 4-10-2 CATGgattacaactAA 149_1 2322 −16 150 tcatggattacaacta 2-11-3 TCatggattacaaCTA 150_1 2323 −16 151 gtcatggattacaact 3-11-2 GTCatggattacaaCT 151_1 2324 −18 152 cattaaatctagtcat 2-10-4 CAttaaatctagTCAT 152_1 2335 −16 153 gacattaaatctagtca 4-10-3 GACAttaaatctagTCA 153_1 2336 −19 154 agggacattaaatcta 4-10-2 AGGGacattaaatcTA 154_1 2340 −18 155 caaagcattataacca 4-9-3 CAAAgcattataaCCA 155_1 2372 −18 156 acttactaggcagaag 2-10-4 ACttactaggcaGAAG 156_1 2415 −19 157 cagagttaactgtaca 4-10-2 CAGAgttaactgtaCA 157_1 2545 −20 158 ccagagttaactgtac 4-10-2 CCAGagttaactgtAC 158_1 2546 −20 159 gccagagttaactgta 2-12-2 GCcagagttaactgTA 159_1 2547 −20 160 tgggccagagttaact 2-12-2 TGggccagagttaaCT 160_1 2550 −21 161 cagcatctatcagact 2-12-2 CAgcatctatcagaCT 161_1 2576 −19 162 tgaaataacatgagtcat 3-11-4 TGAaataacatgagTCAT 162_1 2711 −19 163 gtgaaataacatgagtc 3-10-4 GTGaaataacatgAGTC 163_1 2713 −19 164 tctgtttatgtcactg 4-10-2 TCTGtttatgtcacTG 164_1 2781 −20 165 gtctgtttatgtcact 4-10-2 GTCTgtttatgtcaCT 165_1 2782 −22 166 tggtctgtttatgtca 2-10-4 TGgtctgtttatGTCA 166_1 2784 −21 167 ttggtctgtttatgtc 4-10-2 TTGGtctgtttatgTC 167_1 2785 −20 168 tcacccattgtttaaa 2-12-2 TCacccattgtttaAA 168_1 2842 −15 169 ttcagcaaatattcgt 2-10-4 TTcagcaaatatTCGT 169_1 2995 −17 170 gtgtgttcagcaaatat 3-10-4 GTGtgttcagcaaATAT 170_1 2999 −21 171 tctattgttaggtatc 3-10-3 TCTattgttaggtATC 171_1 3053 −18 172 attgcccatcttactg 2-12-2 ATtgcccatcttacTG 172_1 3118 −19 173 tattgcccatcttact 3-11-2 TATtgcccatcttaCT 173_1 3119 −21 174 aaatattgcccatctt 2-11-3 AAatattgcccatCTT 174_1 3122 −17 175 ataaccttatcataca 3-11-2 ATAaccttatcataCA 175_1 3174 −16 176 tataaccttatcatac 2-11-3 TAtaaccttatcaTAC 176_1 3175 −14 177 ttataaccttatcata 3-11-2 TTAtaaccttatcaTA 177_1 3176 −14 178 tttataaccttatcat 3-10-3 TTTataaccttatCAT 178_1 3177 −16 179 actgctattgctatct 2-11-3 ACtgctattgctaTCT 179_1 3375 −19 180 aggactgctattgcta 2-11-3 AGgactgctattgCTA 180_1 3378 −21 181 gaggactgctattgct 3-11-2 GAGgactgctattgCT 181_1 3379 −22 182 acgtagaataataaca 2-12-2 ACgtagaataataaCA 182_1 3561 −11 183 ccaagtgatataatgg 2-10-4 CCaagtgatataATGG 183_1 3613 −19 184 ttagcagaccaagtga 2-10-4 TTagcagaccaaGTGA 184_1 3621 −21 185 gtttagcagaccaagt 2-12-2 GTttagcagaccaaGT 185_1 3623 −19 186 tgacagtgattatatt 2-12-2 TGacagtgattataTT 186_1 3856 −13 187 tgtccaagatattgac 4-10-2 TGTCcaagatattgAC 187_1 3868 −18 188 gaatatcctagattgt 3-10-3 GAAtatcctagatTGT 188_1 4066 −18 189 caaactgagaatatcc 2-11-3 CAaactgagaataTCC 189_1 4074 −16 190 gcaaactgagaatatc 3-11-2 GCAaactgagaataTC 190_1 4075 −16 191 tcctattacaatcgta 3-11-2 TCCtattacaatcgTA 191_1 4214 −19 192 ttcctattacaatcgt 4-10-2 TTCCtattacaatcGT 192_1 4215 −19 193 actaatgggaggattt 2-12-2 ACtaatgggaggatTT 193_1 4256 −15 194 tagttcagagaataag 2-12-2 TAgttcagagaataAG 194_1 4429 −13 195 taacatatagttcaga 2-11-3 TAacatatagttcAGA 195_1 4436 −15 196 ataacatatagttcag 3-11-2 ATAacatatagttcAG 196_1 4437 −14 197 cataacatatagttca 2-12-2 CAtaacatatagttCA 197_1 4438 −13 198 tcataacatatagttc 2-12-2 TCataacatatagtTC 198_1 4439 −12 199 tagctcctaacaatca 4-10-2 TAGCtcctaacaatCA 199_1 4507 −22 200 ctccaatctttgtata 4-10-2 CTCCaatctttgtaTA 200_1 4602 −20 201 tctccaatctttgtat 4-10-2 TCTCcaatctttgtAT 201_1 4603 −19 202 tctatttcagccaatc 2-12-2 TCtatttcagccaaTC 202_1 4708 −17 203 cggaagtcagagtgaa 3-10-3 CGGaagtcagagtGAA 203_1 4782 −19 204 ttaagcatgaggaata 4-10-2 TTAAgcatgaggaaTA 204_1 4798 −16 205 tgattgagcacctctt 3-10-3 TGAttgagcacctCTT 205_1 4831 −22 206 gactaattatttcgtt 3-11-2 GACtaattatttcgTT 206_1 4857 −15 207 tgactaattatttcgt 3-10-3 TGActaattatttCGT 207_1 4858 −17 208 gtgactaattatttcg 3-10-3 GTGactaattattTCG 208_1 4859 −17 209 ctgcttgaaatgtgac 4-10-2 CTGCttgaaatgtgAC 209_1 4870 −20 210 cctgcttgaaatgtga 2-11-3 CCtgcttgaaatgTGA 210_1 4871 −21 211 atcctgcttgaaatgt 2-10-4 ATcctgcttgaaATGT 211_1 4873 −20 212 attataaatctattct 3-10-3 ATTataaatctatTCT 212_1 5027 −13 213 gctaaatactttcatc 2-11-3 GCtaaatactttcATC 213_1 5151 −16 214 cattgtaacataccta 2-10-4 CAttgtaacataCCTA 214_1 5251 −19 215 gcattgtaacatacct 2-12-2 GCattgtaacatacCT 215_1 5252 −18 216 taatattgcaccaaat 2-12-2 TAatattgcaccaaAT 216_1 5295 −13 217 gataatattgcaccaa 2-11-3 GAtaatattgcacCAA 217_1 5297 −16 218 agataatattgcacca 2-12-2 AGataatattgcacCA 218_1 5298 −16 219 gccaagaagataatat 2-10-4 GCcaagaagataATAT 219_1 5305 −17 220 cacagccacataaact 4-10-2 CACAgccacataaaCT 220_1 5406 −21 221 ttgtaattgtggaaac 2-12-2 TTgtaattgtggaaAC 221_1 5463 −12 222 tgacttgtaattgtgg 2-11-3 TGacttgtaattgTGG 222_1 5467 −18 223 tctaactgaaatagtc 2-12-2 TCtaactgaaatagTC 223_1 5503 −13 224 gtggttctaactgaaa 3-11-2 GTGgttctaactgaAA 224_1 5508 −16 225 caatatgggacttggt 2-12-2 CAatatgggacttgGT 225_1 5522 −18 226 atgacaatatgggact 3-11-2 ATGacaatatgggaCT 226_1 5526 −17 227 tatgacaatatgggac 4-10-2 TATGacaatatgggAC 227_1 5527 −17 228 atatgacaatatggga 4-10-2 ATATgacaatatggGA 228_1 5528 −17 229 cttcacttaataatta 2-11-3 CTtcacttaataaTTA 229_1 5552 −13 230 ctgcttcacttaataa 4-10-2 CTGCttcacttaatAA 230_1 5555 −18 231 aagactgcttcactta 2-11-3 AAgactgcttcacTTA 231_1 5559 −17 232 gaatgccctaattatg 4-10-2 GAATgccctaattaTG 232_1 5589 −19 233 tggaatgccctaatta 3-11-2 TGGaatgccctaatTA 233_1 5591 −19 234 gcaaatgccagtaggt 3-11-2 GCAaatgccagtagGT 234_1 5642 −23 235 ctaatggaaggatttg 3-11-2 CTAatggaaggattTG 235_1 5673 −15 236 aatatagaacctaatg 2-12-2 AAtatagaacctaaTG 236_1 5683 −10 237 gaaagaatagaatgtt 3-10-3 GAAagaatagaatGTT 237_1 5769 −12 238 atgggtaatagattat 3-11-2 ATGggtaatagattAT 238_1 5893 −15 239 gaaagagcacagggtg 2-12-2 GAaagagcacagggTG 239_1 6103 −18 240 ctacatagagggaatg 4-10-2 CTACatagagggaaTG 240_1 6202 −18 241 gcttcctacatagagg 2-10-4 GCttcctacataGAGG 241_1 6207 −24 242 tgcttcctacatagag 4-10-2 TGCTtcctacatagAG 242_1 6208 −22 243 tgggcttgaaatatgt 2-11-3 TGggcttgaaataTGT 243_1 6417 −19 244 cattatatttaagaac 3-11-2 CATtatatttaagaAC 244_1 6457 −11 245 tcggttatgttatcat 2-10-4 TCggttatgttaTCAT 245_1 6470 −19 246 cactttatctggtcgg 2-10-4 CActttatctggTCGG 246_1 6482 −22 247 aaattggcacagcgtt 3-10-3 AAAttggcacagcGTT 247_1 6505 −18 248 accgtgacagtaaatg 4-9-3 ACCGtgacagtaaATG 248_1 6577 −20 249 tgggaaccgtgacagta 2-13-2 TGggaaccgtgacagTA 249_1 6581 −22 250 ccacatataggtcctt 2-11-3 CCacatataggtcCTT 250_1 6597 −21 251 catattgctaccatac 2-11-3 CAtattgctaccaTAC 251_1 6617 −18 252 tcatattgctaccata 3-10-3 TCAtattgctaccATA 252_1 6618 −19 253 caattgtcatattgct 4-8-4 CAATtgtcatatTGCT 253_1 6624 −21 254 cattcaattgtcatattg 3-12-3 CATtcaattgtcataTTG 254_1 6626 −18 255 tttctactgggaatttg 4-9-4 TTTCtactgggaaTTTG 255_1 6644 −20 256 caattagtgcagccag 3-10-3 CAAttagtgcagcCAG 256_1 6672 −21 257 gaataatgttcttatcc 4-10-3 GAATaatgttcttaTCC 257_1 6704 −20 258 cacaaattgaataatgttct 4-13-3 CACAaattgaataatgtTCT 258_1 6709 −20 259 catgcacaaattgaataat 4-11-4 CATGcacaaattgaaTAAT 259_1 6714 −20 260 atcctgcaatttcacat 3-11-3 ATCctgcaatttcaCAT 260_1 6832 −22 261 ccaccatagctgatca 2-12-2 CCaccatagctgatCA 261_1 6868 −22 262 accaccatagctgatca 2-12-3 ACcaccatagctgaTCA 262_1 6868 −23 263 caccaccatagctgatc 2-13-2 CAccaccatagctgaTC 263_1 6869 −21 264 tagtcggcaccaccat 2-12-2 TAgtcggcaccaccAT 264_1 6877 −22 265 cttgtagtcggcaccac 1-14-2 CttgtagtcggcaccAC 265_1 6880 −21 266 cttgtagtcggcacca 1-13-2 CttgtagtcggcacCA 266_1 6881 −21 267 cgcttgtagtcggcac 2-12-2 CGcttgtagtcggcAC 267_1 6883 −21 268 tcaataaagatcaggc 3-11-2 TCAataaagatcagGC 268_1 6942 −17 269 tggacttacaagaatg 2-12-2 TGgacttacaagaaTG 269_1 6986 −14 270 atggacttacaagaat 3-11-2 ATGgacttacaagaAT 270_1 6987 −15 271 gctcaagaaattggat 4-10-2 GCTCaagaaattggAT 271_1 7073 −19 272 tactgtagaacatggc 4-10-2 TACTgtagaacatgGC 272_1 7133 −21 273 gcaattcatttgatct 4-9-3 GCAAttcatttgaTCT 273_1 7239 −20 274 tgaagggaggagggacac 2-14-2 TGaagggaggagggacAC 274_1 7259 −20 275 agtggtgaagggaggag 2-13-2 AGtggtgaagggaggAG 275_1 7265 −21 276 tagtggtgaagggaggag 2-14-2 TAgtggtgaagggaggAG 276_1 7265 −21 277 atagtggtgaagggaggag 1-16-2 AtagtggtgaagggaggAG 277_1 7265 −20 278 tagtggtgaagggagga 2-13-2 TAgtggtgaagggagGA 278_1 7266 −21 279 atagtggtgaagggagga 2-14-2 ATagtggtgaagggagGA 279_1 7266 −21 280 tagtggtgaagggagg 3-11-2 TAGtggtgaagggaGG 280_1 7267 −21 281 atagtggtgaagggagg 3-12-2 ATAgtggtgaagggaGG 281_1 7267 −22 282 gatagtggtgaagggagg 2-14-2 GAtagtggtgaagggaGG 282_1 7267 −21 283 atagtggtgaagggag 4-10-2 ATAGtggtgaagggAG 283_1 7268 −20 284 gatagtggtgaagggag 2-12-3 GAtagtggtgaaggGAG 284_1 7268 −21 285 gagatagtggtgaagg 2-10-4 GAgatagtggtgAAGG 285_1 7271 −20 286 catgggagatagtggt 4-10-2 CATGggagatagtgGT 286_1 7276 −22 287 acaaataatggttactct 4-10-4 ACAAataatggttaCTCT 287_1 7302 −20 288 acacacaaataatggtta 4-10-4 ACACacaaataatgGTTA 288_1 7306 −20 289 gagggacacacaaataat 3-11-4 GAGggacacacaaaTAAT 289_1 7311 −21 290 atatagagaggctcaa 4-8-4 ATATagagaggcTCAA 290_1 7390 −21 291 ttgatatagagaggct 2-10-4 TTgatatagagaGGCT 291_1 7393 −20 292 gcatttgatatagaga 4-9-3 GCATttgatatagAGA 292_1 7397 −20 293 tttgcatttgatatag 2-11-3 TTtgcatttgataTAG 293_1 7400 −15 294 ctggaagaataggttc 3-11-2 CTGgaagaataggtTC 294_1 7512 −17 295 actggaagaataggtt 4-10-2 ACTGgaagaataggTT 295_1 7513 −18 296 tactggaagaataggt 4-10-2 TACTggaagaatagGT 296_1 7514 −18 297 tggcttatcctgtact 4-10-2 TGGCttatcctgtaCT 297_1 7526 −25 298 atggcttatcctgtac 2-10-4 ATggcttatcctGTAC 298_1 7527 −22 299 tatggcttatcctgta 4-10-2 TATGgcttatcctgTA 299_1 7528 −22 300 gtatggcttatcctgt 3-10-3 GTAtggcttatccIGT 300_1 7529 −23 301 atgaatatatgcccagt 2-11-4 ATgaatatatgccCAGT 301_1 7547 −22 302 gatgaatatatgccca 2-10-4 GAtgaatatatgCCCA 302_1 7549 −22 303 caagatgaatatatgcc 3-10-4 CAAgatgaatataTGCC 303_1 7551 −21 304 gacaacatcagtataga 4-9-4 GACAacatcagtaTAGA 304_1 7572 −22 305 caagacaacatcagta 4-8-4 CAAGacaacatcAGTA 305_1 7576 −20 306 cactcctagttccttt 3-10-3 CACtCctagttccTTT 306_1 7601 −22 307 aacactcctagttcct 3-10-3 AACactcctagttCCT 307_1 7603 −22 308 taacactcctagttcc 2-11-3 TAacactcctagtTCC 308_1 7604 −20 309 ctaacactcctagttc 2-12-2 CTaacactcctagtTC 309_1 7605 −18 310 tgataacataactgtg 2-12-2 TGataacataactgTG 310_1 7637 −13 311 ctgataacataactgt 2-10-4 CTgataacataaCTGT 311_1 7638 −18 312 tttgaactcaagtgac 4-10-2 TTTGaactcaagtgAC 312_1 7654 −16 313 tcctttacttagctag 4-9-3 TCCTttacttagcTAG 313_1 7684 −23 314 gagtttggattagctg 2-11-3 GAgtttggattagCTG 314_1 7764 −20 315 tgggatatgacaggga 2-11-3 TGggatatgacagGGA 315_1 7838 −21 316 tgtgggatatgacagg 4-10-2 TGTGggatatgacaGG 316_ 7840 −22 317 atatggaagggatatc 4-10-2 ATATggaagggataTC 317_1 7875 −17 318 acaggatatggaaggg 3-10-3 ACAggatatggaaGGG 318_1 7880 −21 319 atttcaacaggatatgg 4-9-4 ATTTcaacaggatATGG 319_1 7885 −20 320 gagtaatttcaacagg 2-11-3 GAgtaatttcaacAGG 320_1 7891 −17 321 agggagtaatttcaaca 4-9-4 AGGGagtaatttcAACA 321_1 7893 −22 322 attagggagtaatttca 4-9-4 ATTAgggagtaatTTCA 322_1 7896 −21 323 cttactattagggagt 2-10-4 CTtactattaggGAGT 323_1 7903 −20 324 cagcttactattaggg 2-11-3 CAgcttactattaGGG 324_1 7906 −20 326 atttcagcttactattag 3-11-4 ATTtcagcttactaTTAG 326_1 7908 −20 325 tcagcttactattagg 3-10-3 TCAgcttactattAGG 325_1 7907 −20 327 ttcagcttactattag 2-10-4 TTcagcttactaTTAG 327_1 7908 −17 328 cagatttcagcttact 4-10-2 CAGAtttcagcttaCT 328_1 7913 −21 329 gactacaactagaggg 3-11-2 GACtacaactagagGG 329_1 7930 −19 330 agactacaactagagg 4-10-2 AGACtacaactagaGG 330_1 7931 −19 331 aagactacaactagag 2-12-2 AAgactacaactagAG 331_1 7932 −13 332 atgatttaattctagtcaaa 4-12-4 ATGAtttaattctagtCAAA 332_1 7982 −20 333 tttaattctagtcaaa 3-10-3 TTTaattctagtcAAA 333_1 7982 −12 334 gatttaattctagtca 4-8-4 GATTtaattctaGTCA 334_1 7984 −20 771 tgatttaattctagtca 3-10-4 TGAtttaattctaGTCA 771_1 7984 −20 335 atgatttaattctagtca 4-11-3 ATGAtttaattctagTCA 335_1 7984 −20 336 gatgatttaattctagtca 4-13-2 GATGatttaattctagtCA 336_1 7984 −20 337 gatttaattctagtca 2-10-4 GAtttaattctaGTCA 337_1 7984 −18 338 gatgatttaattctagtc 4-11-3 GATGatttaattctaGTC 338_1 7985 −20 339 tgatttaattctagtc 2-12-2 TGatttaattctagTC 339_1 7985 −13 340 gagatgatttaattcta 4-9-4 GAGAtgatttaatTCTA 340_1 7988 −20 341 gagatgatttaattct 3-10-3 GAGatgatttaatTCT 341_1 7989 −16 342 cagattgatggtagtt 4-10-2 CAGAttgatggtagTT 342_1 8030 −19 343 ctcagattgatggtag 2-10-4 CTcagattgatgGTAG 343_1 8032 −20 344 gttagccctcagattg 3-10-3 GTTagccctcagaTTG 344_1 8039 −23 345 tgtattgttagccctc 2-10-4 TGtattgttagcCCTC 345_1 8045 −24 346 acttgtattgttagcc 2-10-4 ACttgtattgttAGCC 346_1 8048 −22 347 agccagtatcagggac 3-11-2 AGCcagtatcagggAC 347_1 8191 −23 348 ttgacaatagtggcat 2-10-4 TTgacaatagtgGCAT 348_1 8213 −20 349 acaagtggtatcttct 3-10-3 ACAagtggtatctTCT 349_1 8228 −19 350 aatctactttacaagt 4-10-2 AATCtactttacaaGT 350_1 8238 −16 351 cacagtagatgcctgata 2-12-4 CAcagtagatgcctGATA 351_1 8351 −24 352 gaacacagtagatgcc 2-11-3 GAacacagtagatGCC 352_1 8356 −21 353 cttggaacacagtagat 4-11-2 CTTGgaacacagtagAT 353_1 8359 −20 354 atatcttggaacacag 3-10-3 ATAtcttggaacaCAG 354_1 8364 −18 355 tctttaatatcttggaac 3-11-4 TCTttaatatcttgGAAC 355_1 8368 −19 356 tgatttctttaatatcttg 2-13-4 TGatttctttaatatCTTG 356_1 8372 −19 357 tgatgatttctttaatatc 2-13-4 TGatgatttctttaaTATC 357_1 8375 −18 358 aggctaagtcatgatg 3-11-2 AGGctaagtcatgaTG 358_1 8389 −19 359 ttgatgaggctaagtc 4-10-2 TTGAtgaggctaagTC 359_1 8395 −19 360 ccaggattatactctt 3-11-2 CCAggattatactaT 360_1 8439 −20 361 gccaggattatactct 2-10-4 GCcaggattataCTCT 361_1 8440 −23 362 ctgccaggattatact 3-11-2 CTGccaggattataCT 362_1 8442 −21 363 cagaaacttatactttatg 4-13-2 CAGAaacttatactttaTG 363_1 8473 −19 364 aagcagaaacttatact 4-9-4 AAGCagaaacttaTACT 364_1 8478 −20 365 gaagcagaaacttatact 3-11-4 GAAgcagaaacttaTACT 365_1 8478 −20 366 tggaagcagaaacttatact 3-15-2 TGGaagcagaaacttataCT 366_1 8478 −21 367 tggaagcagaaacttatac 3-13-3 TGGaagcagaaacttaTAC 367_1 8479 −20 368 aagcagaaacttatac 2-11-3 AAgcagaaacttaTAC 368_1 8479 −13 369 tggaagcagaaacttata 3-11-4 TGGaagcagaaactTATA 369_1 8480 −21 370 aagggatattatggag 4-10-2 AAGGgatattatggAG 370_1 8587 −18 371 tgccggaagatttcct 2-12-2 TGccggaagatttcCT 371_1 8641 −21 372 atggattgggagtaga 4-10-2 ATGGattgggagtaGA 372_1 8772 −21 373 agatggattgggagta 2-12-2 AGatggattgggagTA 373_1 8774 −18 374 aagatggattgggagt 3-11-2 AAGatggattgggaGT 374_1 8775 −18 375 acaagatggattggga 2-10-4 ACaagatggattGGGA 375_1 8777 −20 375 acaagatggattggga 2-12-2 ACaagatggattggGA 375_2 8777 −17 376 agaaggttcagacttt 3-9-4 AGAaggttcagaCTTT 376_1 8835 −20 377 gcagaaggttcagact 2-11-3 GCagaaggttcagACT 377_1 8837 −21 377 gcagaaggttcagact 3-11-2 GCAgaaggttcagaCT 377_2 8837 −22 378 tgcagaaggttcagac 4-10-2 TGCAgaaggttcagAC 378_1 8838 −22 379 agtgcagaaggttcag 2-11-3 AGtgcagaaggttCAG 379_1 8840 −20 379 agtgcagaaggttcag 4-10-2 AGTGcagaaggttcAG 379_2 8840 −21 380 aagtgcagaaggttca 4-10-2 AAGTgcagaaggttCA 380_1 8841 −20 381 taagtgcagaaggttc 2-10-4 TAagtgcagaagGTTC 381_1 8842 −19 382 tctaagtgcagaaggt 2-10-4 TCtaagtgcagaAGGT 382_1 8844 −21 383 ctcaggagttctacttc 3-12-2 CTCaggagttctactTC 383_1 8948 −20 384 ctcaggagttctactt 3-10-3 CTCaggagttctaCTT 384_1 8949 −21 385 atggaggtgactcaggag 1-15-2 AtggaggtgactcaggAG 385_1 8957 −20 386 atggaggtgactcagga 2-13-2 ATggaggtgactcagGA 386_1 8958 −21 387 atggaggtgactcagg 2-11-3 ATggaggtgactcAGG 387_1 8959 −21 388 tatggaggtgactcagg 2-12-3 TAtggaggtgactcAGG 388_1 8959 −21 389 atatggaggtgactcagg 2-14-2 ATatggaggtgactcaGG 389_1 8959 −21 390 tatggaggtgactcag 4-10-2 TATGgaggtgactcAG 390_1 8960 −21 391 atatggaggtgactcag 2-11-4 ATatggaggtgacTCAG 391_1 8960 −22 392 catatggaggtgactcag 2-14-2 CAtatggaggtgactcAG 392_1 8960 −20 393 atatggaggtgactca 3-10-3 ATAtggaggtgacTCA 393_1 8961 −20 394 catatggaggtgactca 2-12-3 CAtatggaggtgacTCA 394_1 8961 −21 395 catatggaggtgactc 2-10-4 CAtatggaggtgACTC 395_1 8962 −20 396 gcatatggaggtgactc 2-13-2 GCatatggaggtgacTC 396_1 8962 −21 397 tgcatatggaggtgactc 2-14-2 TGcatatggaggtgacTC 397_1 8962 −21 398 ttgcatatggaggtgactc 1-16-2 TtgcatatggaggtgacTC 398_1 8962 −20 399 tttgcatatggaggtgactc 1-17-2 TttgcatatggaggtgacTC 399_1 8962 −21 400 gcatatggaggtgact 2-12-2 GCatatggaggtgaCT 400_1 8963 −20 401 tgcatatggaggtgact 2-13-2 TGcatatggaggtgaCT 401_1 8963 −20 402 ttgcatatggaggtgact 3-13-2 TTGcatatggaggtgaCT 402_1 8963 −22 403 tttgcatatggaggtgact 1-16-2 TttgcatatggaggtgaCT 403_1 8963 −20 404 tgcatatggaggtgac 3-11-2 TGCatatggaggtgAC 404_1 8964 −20 405 ttgcatatggaggtgac 3-11-3 TTGcatatggaggtGAC 405_1 8964 −21 406 tttgcatatggaggtgac 4-12-2 TTTGcatatggaggtgAC 406_1 8964 −21 407 tttgcatatggaggtga 4-11-2 TTTGcatatggaggtGA 407_1 8965 −21 408 tttgcatatggaggtg 2-10-4 TTtgcatatggaGGTG 408_1 8966 −21 409 aagtgaagttcaacagc 2-11-4 AAgtgaagttcaaCAGC 409_1 8997 −20 410 tgggaagtgaagttca 2-10-4 TGggaagtgaagTTCA 410_1 9002 −20 411 atgggaagtgaagttc 2-11-3 ATgggaagtgaagTTC 411_1 9003 −17 412 gatgggaagtgaagtt 4-9-3 GATGggaagtgaaGTT 412_1 9004 −21 413 ctgtgatgggaagtgaa 3-11-3 CTGtgatgggaagtGAA 413_1 9007 −20 414 attgagtgaatccaaa 3-10-3 ATTgagtgaatccAAA 414_1 9119 −14 415 aattgagtgaatccaa 2-10-4 AAttgagtgaatCCAA 415_1 9120 −16 416 gataattgagtgaatcc 4-10-3 GATAattgagtgaaTCC 416_1 9122 −20 417 gtgataattgagtgaa 3-10-3 GTGataattgagtGAA 417_1 9125 −16 418 aagaaaggtgcaataa 3-10-3 AAGaaaggtgcaaTAA 418_1 9155 −14 419 caagaaaggtgcaata 2-10-4 CAagaaaggtgcAATA 419_1 9156 −15 420 acaagaaaggtgcaat 4-10-2 ACAAgaaaggtgcaAT 420_1 9157 −16 421 atttaaactcacaaac 2-12-2 ATttaaactcacaaAC 421_1 9171 −10 422 ctgttaggttcagcga 2-10-4 CTgttaggttcaGCGA 422_1 9235 −24 423 tctgaatgaacatttcg 4-9-4 TCTGaatgaacatTTCG 423_1 9260 −20 424 ctcattgaaggttctg 2-10-4 CTcattgaaggtTCTG 424_1 9281 −20 425 ctaatctcattgaagg 3-11-2 CTAatctcattgaaGG 425_1 9286 −17 426 cctaatctcattgaag 2-12-2 CCtaatctcattgaAG 426_1 9287 −16 427 actttgatctttcagc 3-10-3 ACTttgatctttcAGC 427_1 9305 −20 428 actatgcaacactttg 2-12-2 ACtatgcaacacttTG 428_1 9315 −15 429 caaatagctttatcgg 3-10-3 CAAatag ctttatCGG 429_1 9335 −17 430 ccaaatagctttatcg 2-10-4 CCaaatagctttATCG 430_1 9336 −19 431 tccaaatagctttatc 4-10-2 TCCAaatagctttaTC 431_1 9337 −18 432 gatccaaatagcttta 4-10-2 GATCcaaatagcttTA 432_1 9339 −18 433 atgatccaaatagctt 2-10-4 ATgatccaaataGCTT 433_1 9341 −19 434 tatgatccaaatagct 4-10-2 TATGatccaaatagCT 434_1 9342 −18 435 taaacagggctgggaat 4-9-4 TAAAcagggctggGAAT 435_1 9408 −22 436 acttaaacagggctgg 2-10-4 ACttaaacagggCTGG 436_1 9412 −21 437 acacttaaacagggct 2-10-4 ACacttaaacagGGCT 437_1 9414 −22 438 gaacacttaaacaggg 4-8-4 GAACacttaaacAGGG 438_1 9416 −20 439 agagaacacttaaacag 4-9-4 AGAGaacacttaaACAG 439_1 9418 −20 440 ctacagagaacactta 4-8-4 CTACagagaacaCTTA 440_1 9423 −20 441 atgctacagagaacact 3-10-4 ATGctacagagaaCACT 441_1 9425 −22 442 ataaatgctacagagaaca 4-11-4 ATAAatgctacagagAACA 442_1 9427 −20 443 agataaatgctacagaga 2-12-4 AGataaatgctacaGAGA 443_1 9430 −20 444 tagagataaatgctaca 4-9-4 TAGAgataaatgcTACA 444_1 9434 −21 445 tagatagagataaatgct 4-11-3 TAGAtagagataaatGCT 445_1 9437 −20 446 caatatactagatagaga 4-10-4 CAATatactagataGAGA 446_1 9445 −21 447 tacacaatatactagatag 4-11-4 TACAcaatatactagATAG 447_1 9448 −21 448 ctacacaatatactag 3-10-3 CTAcacaatatacTAG 448_1 9452 −16 449 gctacacaatatacta 4-8-4 GCTAcacaatatACTA 449_1 9453 −21 450 atatgctacacaatatac 4-10-4 ATATgctacacaatATAC 450_1 9455 −20 451 tgatatgctacacaat 4-8-4 TGATatgctacaCAAT 451_1 9459 −20 452 atgatatgatatgctac 4-9-4 ATGAtatgatatgCTAC 452_1 9464 −21 453 gaggagagagacaataaa 4-10-4 GAGGagagagacaaTAAA 453_1 9495 −20 454 ctaggaggagagagaca 3-11-3 CTAggaggagagagACA 454_1 9500 −22 455 tattctaggaggagaga 4-10-3 TATTctaggaggagAGA 455_1 9504 −21 456 ttatattctaggaggag 4-10-3 TTATattctaggagGAG 456_1 9507 −21 457 gtttatattctaggag 3-9-4 GTTtatattctaGGAG 457_1 9510 −20 458 tggagtttatattctagg 2-12-4 TGgagtttatattcTAGG 458_1 9512 −22 459 cgtaccaccactctgc 2-11-3 CGtaccaccactcTGC 459_1 9590 −25 460 tgaggaaatcattcattc 4-10-4 TGAGgaaatcattcATTC 460_1 9641 −22 461 tttgaggaaatcattcat 4-10-4 TTTGaggaaatcatTCAT 461_1 9643 −20 462 aggctaatcctatttg 4-10-2 AGGCtaatcctattTG 462_1 9657 −22 463 tttaggctaatcctat 4-8-4 TTTAggctaatcCTAT 463_1 9660 −22 464 tgctccagtgtaccct 3-11-2 TGCtccagtgtaccCT 464_1 9755 −27 465 tagtagtactcgatag 2-10-4 TAgtagtactcgATAG 465_1 9813 −18 466 ctaattgtagtagtactc 3-12-3 CTAattgtagtagtaCTC 466_1 9818 −20 467 tgctaattgtagtagt 2-10-4 TGctaattgtagTAGT 467_1 9822 −19 468 agtgctaattgtagta 4-10-2 AGTGctaattgtagTA 468_1 9824 −19 469 gcaagtgctaattgta 4-10-2 GCAAgtgctaattgTA 469_1 9827 −20 470 gaggaaatgaactaattta 4-13-2 GAGGaaatgaactaattTA 470_1 9881 −18 471 caggaggaaatgaacta 4-11-2 CAGGaggaaatgaacTA 471_1 9886 −19 472 ccctagagtcatttcc 2-11-3 CCctagagtcattTCC 472_1 9902 −24 473 atcttacatgatgaagc 3-11-3 ATCttacatgatgaAGC 473_1 9925 −20 475 agacacactcagatttcag 2-15-2 AGacacactcagatttcAG 475_1 9967 −20 474 gacacactcagatttcag 3-13-2 GACacactcagatttcAG 474_1 9967 −20 476 aagacacactcagatttcag 3-15-2 AAGacacactcagatttcAG 476_1 9967 −21 477 agacacactcagatttca 2-13-3 AGacacactcagattTCA 477_1 9968 −20 478 aagacacactcagatttca 3-13-3 AAGacacactcagattTCA 478_1 9968 −21 479 aaagacacactcagatttca 2-14-4 AAagacacactcagatTTCA 479_1 9968 −20 480 gaaagacacactcagatttc 3-14-3 GAAagacacactcagatTTC 480_1 9969 −20 481 aagacacactcagatttc 4-11-3 AAGAcacactcagatTTC 481_1 9969 −21 482 aaagacacactcagatttc 4-11-4 AAAGacacactcagaTTTC 482_1 9969 −20 483 tgaaagacacactcagattt 4-14-2 TGAAagacacactcagatTT 483_1 9970 −20 484 tgaaagacacactcagatt 2-13-4 TGaaagacacactcaGATT 484_1 9971 −21 485 tgaaagacacactcagat 3-12-3 TGAaagacacactcaGAT 485_1 9972 −20 486 attgaaagacacactca 4-10-3 ATTGaaagacacacTCA 486_1 9975 −19 487 tcattgaaagacacact 2-11-4 TCattgaaagacaCACT 487_1 9977 −18 488 ttccatcattgaaaga 3-9-4 TTCcatcattgaAAGA 488_1 9983 −18 489 ataataccacttatcat 4-9-4 ATAAtaccacttaTCAT 489_1 10010 −20 490 ttacttaatttctttgga 2-12-4 TTacttaatttcttTGGA 490_1 10055 −20 491 ttagaactagctttatca 3-12-3 TTAgaactagctttaTCA 491_1 10101 −20 492 gaggtacaaatatagg 3-10-3 GAGgtacaaatatAGG 492_1 10171 −18 493 cttatgatacaactta 3-10-3 CTTatgatacaacTTA 493_1 10384 −15 494 tcttatgatacaactt 2-11-3 TCttatgatacaaCTT 494_1 10385 −15 495 ttcttatgatacaact 3-11-2 TTCttatgatacaaCT 495_1 10386 −15 496 cagtttcttatgatac 2-11-3 CAgtttcttatgaTAC 496_1 10390 −16 497 gcagtttcttatgata 3-11-2 GCAgtttcttatgaTA 497_1 10391 −19 498 tacaaatgtctattaggtt 4-12-3 TACAaatgtctattagGTT 498_1 10457 −21 499 tgtacaaatgtctattag 4-11-3 TGTAcaaatgtctatTAG 499_1 10460 −20 500 agcatcacaattagta 3-11-2 AGCatcacaattagTA 500_1 10535 −18 501 ctaatgatagtgaagc 3-11-2 CTAatgatagtgaaGC 501_1 10548 −17 502 agctaatgatagtgaa 3-11-2 AGCtaatgatagtgAA 502_1 10550 −16 503 atgccttgacatatta 4-10-2 ATGCcttgacatatTA 503_1 10565 −20 504 ctcaagattattgacac 4-9-4 CTCAagattattgACAC 504_1 10623 −20 505 acctcaagattattga 2-10-4 ACctcaagattaTTGA 505_2 10626 −18 505 acctcaagattattga 3-9-4 ACCtcaagattaTTGA 505_1 10626 −20 506 aacctcaagattattg 4-10-2 AACCtcaagattatTG 506_1 10627 −17 507 cacaaacctcaagattatt 4-13-2 CACAaacctcaagattaTT 507_1 10628 −20 508 gtacttaattagacct 3-9-4 GTActtaattagACCT 508_1 10667 −21 509 agtacttaattagacc 4-9-3 AGTActtaattagACC 509_1 10668 −20 510 gtatgaggtggtaaac 4-10-2 GTATgaggtggtaaAC 510_1 10688 −18 511 aggaaacagcagaagtg 2-11-4 AGgaaacagcagaAGTG 511_1 10723 −21 512 gcacaacccagaggaa 2-12-2 GCacaacccagaggAA 512_1 10735 −20 513 caagcacaacccagag 3-11-2 CAAgcacaacccagAG 513_1 10738 −20 514 ttcaagcacaacccag 3-10-3 TTCaagcacaaccCAG 514_1 10740 −21 515 aattcaagcacaaccc 2-10-4 AAttcaagcacaACCC 515_1 10742 −20 516 taataattcaagcacaacc 4-13-2 TAATaattcaagcacaaCC 516_1 10743 −20 517 actaataattcaagcac 4-9-4 ACTAataattcaaGCAC 517_1 10747 −20 518 ataatactaataattcaagc 4-12-4 ATAAtactaataattcAAGC 518_1 10749 −19 519 tagatttgtgaggtaa 2-10-4 TAgatttgtgagGTAA 519_1 11055 −18 520 agccttaattctccat 4-10-2 AGCCttaattctccAT 520_1 11091 −24 521 aatgatctagagcctta 4-9-4 AATGatctagagcCTTA 521_1 11100 −22 522 ctaatgatctagagcc 3-10-3 CTAatgatctagaGCC 522_1 11103 −22 523 actaatgatctagagc 3-9-4 ACTaatgatctaGAGC 523_1 11104 −21 524 cattaacatgttcttatt 3-11-4 CATtaacatgttctTATT 524_1 11165 −19 525 acaagtacattaacatgttc 4-12-4 ACAAgtacattaacatGTTC 525_1 11170 −22 526 ttacaagtacattaacatg 4-11-4 TTACaagtacattaaCATG 526_1 11173 −20 527 gctttattcatgtttat 4-9-4 GCTTtattcatgtTTAT 527_1 11195 −22 528 gctttattcatgttta 3-11-2 GCTttattcatgttTA 528_1 11196 −18 529 agagctttattcatgttt 3-13-2 AGAgctttattcatgtTT 529_1 11197 −20 530 ataagagctttattcatg 4-10-4 ATAAgagctttattCATG 530_1 11200 −21 531 cataagagctttattca 4-9-4 CATAagagctttaTTCA 531_1 11202 −21 532 agcataagagctttat 4-8-4 AGCAtaagagctTTAT 532_1 11205 −22 533 tagattgtttagtgca 3-10-3 TAGattgtttagtGCA 533_1 11228 −20 534 gtagattgtttagtgc 2-10-4 GTagattgtttaGTGC 534_1 11229 −21 535 gacaattctagtagatt 4-9-4 GACAattctagtaGATT 535_1 11238 −21 536 ctgacaattctagtag 3-9-4 CTGacaattctaGTAG 536_1 11241 −20 537 gctgacaattctagta 4-10-2 GCTGacaattctagTA 537_1 11242 −21 538 aggattaagatacgta 2-12-2 AGgattaagatacgTA 538_1 11262 −15 539 caggattaagatacgt 2-11-3 CAggattaagataCGT 539_1 11263 −17 540 tcaggattaagatacg 3-11-2 TCAggattaagataCG 540_1 11264 −16 541 ttcaggattaagatac 2-10-4 TTcaggattaagATAC 541_1 11265 −15 542 aggaagaaagtttgattc 4-10-4 AGGAagaaagtttgATTC 542_1 11308 −21 543 tcaaggaagaaagtttga 4-10-4 TCAAggaagaaagtTTGA 543_1 11311 −20 544 ctcaaggaagaaagtttg 4-10-4 CTCAaggaagaaagTTTG 544_1 11312 −20 545 tgctcaaggaagaaagt 3-10-4 TGCtcaaggaagaAAGT 545_1 11315 −21 546 aattatgctcaaggaaga 4-11-3 AATTatgctcaaggaAGA 546_1 11319 −20 547 taggataccacattatga 4-12-2 TAGGataccacattatGA 547_1 11389 −22 548 cataatttattccattcctc 2-15-3 CAtaatttattccattcCTC 548_1 11449 −22 549 tgcataatttattccat 4-10-3 TGCAtaatttattcCAT 549_1 11454 −22 550 actgcataatttattcc 4-10-3 ACTGcataatttatTCC 550_1 11456 −21 551 ctaaactgcataatttatt 4-11-4 CTAAactgcataattTATT 551_1 11458 −20 552 ataactaaactgcata 2-10-4 ATaactaaactgCATA 552_1 11465 −16 553 ttattaataactaaactgc 3-12-4 TTAttaataactaaaCTGC 553_1 11468 −19 554 tagtacattattaataact 4-13-2 TAGTacattattaataaCT 554_1 11475 −18 555 cataactaaggacgtt 4-10-2 CATAactaaggacgTT 555_1 11493 −17 556 tcataactaaggacgt 2-11-3 TCataactaaggaCGT 556_1 11494 −16 557 cgtcataactaaggac 4-10-2 CGTCataactaaggAC 557_1 11496 −17 558 tcgtcataactaagga 2-12-2 TCgtcataactaagGA 558_1 11497 −16 559 atcgtcataactaagg 2-10-4 ATcgtcataactAAGG 559_1 11498 −17 560 gttagtatcttacatt 2-11-3 GTtagtatcttacATT 560_1 11525 −15 561 ctctattgttagtatc 3-10-3 CTCtattgttagtATC 561_1 11532 −17 562 agtatagagttactgt 3-10-3 AGTatagagttacTGT 562_1 11567 −19 563 ttcctggtgatacttt 4-10-2 TTCCtggtgatactTT 563_1 11644 −21 564 gttcctggtgatactt 4-10-2 GTTCctggtgatacTT 564_1 11645 −21 565 tgttcctggtgatact 2-12-2 TGttcctggtgataCT 565_1 11646 −20 566 ataaacatgaatctctcc 2-12-4 ATaaacatgaatctCTCC 566_1 11801 −20 567 ctttataaacatgaatctc 3-12-4 CTTtataaacatgaaTCTC 567_1 11804 −19 568 ctgtctttataaacatg 3-10-4 CTGtctttataaaCATG 568_1 11810 −19 569 ttgttataaatctgtctt 2-12-4 TTgttataaatctgTCTT 569_1 11820 −18 570 ttaaatttattcttggata 3-12-4 TTAaatttattcttgGATA 570_1 11849 −19 571 cttaaatttattcttgga 2-12-4 CTtaaatttattctTGGA 571_1 11851 −19 572 cttcttaaatttattcttg 4-13-2 CTTCttaaatttattctTG 572_1 11853 −18 573 tatgtttctcagtaaag 4-9-4 TATGtttctcagtAAAG 573_1 11877 −19 574 gaattatctttaaacca 3-10-4 GAAttatctttaaACCA 574_1 11947 −18 575 cccttaaatttctaca 3-11-2 CCCttaaatttctaCA 575_1 11980 −20 576 acactgctcttgtacc 4-10-2 ACACtgctcttgtaCC 576_1 11995 −23 577 tgacaacactgctctt 3-10-3 TGAcaacactgctCTT 577_1 12000 −21 578 tacatttattgggctc 4-10-2 TACAtttattgggcTC 578_1 12081 −19 579 gtacatttattgggct 2-10-4 GTacatttattgGGCT 579_1 12082 −23 580 ttggtacatttattgg 3-10-3 TTGgtacatttatTGG 580_1 12085 −18 581 catgttggtacatttat 4-10-3 CATGttggtacattTAT 581_1 12088 −21 582 aatcatgttggtacat 4-10-2 AATCatgttggtacAT 582_1 12092 −16 583 aaatcatgttggtaca 2-12-2 AAatcatgttggtaCA 583_1 12093 −14 584 gacaagtttggattaa 3-11-2 GACaagtttggattAA 584_1 12132 −14 585 aatgttcagatgcctc 2-10-4 AAtgttcagatgCCTC 585_1 12197 −21 586 gcttaatgttcagatg 2-12-2 GCttaatgttcagaTG 586_1 12201 −17 587 cgtacatagcttgatg 4-10-2 CGTAcatagcttgaTG 587_1 12267 −20 588 gtgaggaattaggata 3-11-2 GTGaggaattaggaTA 588_1 12753 −17 589 gtaacaatatggtttg 3-11-2 GTAacaatatggttTG 589_1 12780 −15 590 gaaatattgtagacta 2-11-3 GAaatattgtagaCTA 590_1 13151 −14 591 ttgaaatattgtagac 3-11-2 TTGaaatattgtagAC 591_1 13153 −12 592 aagtctagtaatttgc 2-10-4 AAgtctagtaatTTGC 592_1 13217 −17 593 gctcagtagattataa 4-10-2 GCTCagtagattatAA 593_1 13259 −17 594 catacactgttgctaa 3-10-3 CATacactgttgcTAA 594_1 13296 −19 595 atggtctcaaatcatt 3-10-3 ATGgtctcaaatcATT 595_1 13314 −17 596 caatggtctcaaatca 4-10-2 CAATggtctcaaatCA 596_1 13316 −18 597 ttcctattgattgact 4-10-2 TTCCtattgattgaCT 597_1 13568 −20 598 tttctgttcacaacac 4-10-2 TTTCtgttcacaacAC 598_1 13600 −17 599 aggaacccactaatct 2-11-3 AGgaacccactaaTCT 599_1 13702 −20 600 taaatggcaggaaccc 3-11-2 TAAatggcaggaacCC 600_1 13710 −19 601 gtaaatggcaggaacc 4-10-2 GTAAatggcaggaaCC 601_1 13711 −20 602 ttgtaaatggcaggaa 2-11-3 TTgtaaatggcagGAA 602_1 13713 −16 603 ttatgagttaggcatg 2-10-4 TTatgagttaggCATG 603_1 13835 −19 604 ccaggtgaaactttaa 3-11-2 CCAggtgaaactttAA 604_1 13935 −17 605 cccttagtcagctcct 3-10-3 CCCttagtcagctCCT 605_1 13997 -30 606 acccttagtcagctcc 2-10-4 ACccttagtcagCTCC 606_1 13998 −27 607 cacccttagtcagctc 2-11-3 CAcccttagtcagCTC 607_1 13999 −24 608 tctcttactaggctcc 3-10-3 TCTcttactaggcTCC 608_1 14091 −24 609 cctatctgtcatcatg 2-11-3 CCtatctgtcatcATG 609_1 14178 −20 610 tcctatctgtcatcat 3-11-2 TCCtatctgtcatcAT 610_1 14179 −20 611 gagaagtgtgagaagc 3-11-2 GAGaagtgtgagaaGC 611_1 14808 −19 612 catccttgaagtttag 4-10-2 CATCcttgaagtttAG 612_1 14908 −19 613 taataagatggctccc 3-10-3 TAAtaagatggctCCC 613_1 15046 −21 614 caaggcataataagat 3-11-2 CAAggcataataagAT 614_1 15053 −14 615 ccaaggcataataaga 2-10-4 CCaaggcataatAAGA 615_1 15054 −18 616 tgatccaattctcacc 2-12-2 TGatccaattctcaCC 616_1 15151 −19 617 atgatccaattctcac 3-10-3 ATGatccaattctCAC 617_1 15152 −19 618 cgcttcatcttcaccc 3-11-2 CGCttcatcttcacCC 618_1 15260 −26 619 tatgacactgcatctt 2-10-4 TAtgacactgcaTCTT 619_1 15317 −19 620 gtatgacactgcatct 3-10-3 GTAtgacactgcaTCT 620_1 15318 −21 621 tgtatgacactgcatc 2-10-4 TGtatgacactgCATC 621_1 15319 −20 622 ttctcttctgtaagtc 4-10-2 TTCTcttctgtaagTC 622_1 15363 −19 623 ttctacagaggaacta 2-10-4 TictacagaggaACTA 623_1 15467 −17 624 actacagttctacaga 3-10-3 ACTacagttctacAGA 624_1 15474 −19 625 ttcccacaggtaaatg 4-10-2 TTCCcacaggtaaaTG 625_1 15561 −21 626 attatttgaatatactcatt 4-12-4 ATTAtttgaatatactCATT 626_1 15594 −20 627 tgggaggaaattatttg 4-10-3 TGGGaggaaattatTTG 627_1 15606 −20 628 tgactcatcttaaatg 4-10-2 TGACtcatcttaaaTG 628_1 15621 −17 629 ctgactcatcttaaat 3-11-2 CTGactcatcttaaAT 629_1 15622 −16 630 tttactctgactcatc 3-10-3 TTTactctgactcATC 630_1 15628 −17 631 tattggaggaattatt 3-11-2 TATtggaggaattaTT 631_1 15642 −14 632 gtattggaggaattat 3-11-2 GTAttggaggaattAT 632_1 15643 −16 633 tggtatacttctctaagtat 2-15-3 TGgtatacttctctaagTAT 633_1 15655 −22 634 gatctcttggtatact 4-10-2 GATCtcttggtataCT 634_1 15666 −20 635 cagacaactctatacc 2-12-2 CAgacaactctataCC 635_1 15689 −18 636 aacatcagacaactcta 4-9-4 AACAtcagacaacTCTA 636_1 15693 −21 637 taacatcagacaactc 4-10-2 TAACatcagacaacTC 637_1 15695 −16 638 tttaacatcagacaactc 4-10-4 TTTAacatcagacaACTC 638_1 15695 −20 639 atttaacatcagacaa 2-12-2 ATttaacatcagacAA 639_1 15698 −11 640 cctatttaacatcagac 2-11-4 CCtatttaacatcAGAC 640_1 15700 −20 641 tccctatttaacatca 3-10-3 TCCctatttaacaTCA 641_1 15703 −21 642 tcaacgactattggaat 4-9-4 TCAAcgactattgGAAT 642_1 15737 −20 643 cttatattctggctat 4-9-3 CTTAtattctggcTAT 643_1 15850 −20 644 atccttatattctggc 4-10-2 ATCCttatattctgGC 644_1 15853 −23 645 gatccttatattctgg 2-10-4 GAtccttatattCTGG 645_1 15854 −21 646 tgatccttatattctg 3-10-3 TGAtccttatattCTG 646_1 15855 −19 647 attgaaacttgatcct 4-8-4 ATTGaaacttgaTCCT 647_1 15864 −21 648 actgtcattgaaactt 2-10-4 ACtgtcattgaaACTT 648_1 15870 −16 649 tcttactgtcattgaa 3-11-2 TCTtactgtcattgAA 649_1 15874 −16 650 aggatcttactgtcatt 2-11-4 AGgatcttactgtCATT 650_1 15877 −21 651 gcaaatcaactccatc 3-10-3 GCAaatcaactccATC 651_1 15896 −20 652 gtgcaaatcaactcca 3-10-3 GTGcaaatcaactCCA 652_1 15898 −22 653 caattatttctttgtgc 4-10-3 CAATtatttctttgTGC 653_1 15910 −21 654 tggcaacaattatttctt 3-11-4 TGGcaacaattattTCTT 654_1 15915 −21 655 gctggcaacaattatt 3-9-4 GCTggcaacaatTATT 655_1 15919 −21 656 atccatttctactgcc 4-10-2 ATCCatttctactgCC 656_1 15973 −24 657 taatatctattgatttcta 4-11-4 TAATatctattgattTCTA 657_1 15988 −20 658 tcaatagtgtagggca 2-12-2 TCaatagtgtagggCA 658_1 16093 −18 659 ttcaatagtgtagggc 3-11-2 TTCaatagtgtaggGC 659_1 16094 −19 660 aggttaattaattcaatag 4-11-4 AGGTtaattaattcaATAG 660_1 16102 −21 661 catttgtaatccctag 3-10-3 CATttgtaatcccTAG 661_2 16163 −20 661 catttgtaatccctag 3-9-4 CATttgtaatccCTAG 661_1 16163 −22 662 acatttgtaatcccta 3-10-3 ACAtttgtaatccCTA 662_1 16164 −20 663 aacatttgtaatccct 2-10-4 AAcatttgtaatCCCT 663_2 16165 −21 663 aacatttgtaatccct 3-9-4 AACatttgtaatCCCT 663_1 16165 −22 664 taaatttcaagttctg 2-11-3 TAaatttcaagttCTG 664_1 16184 −14 665 gtttaaatttcaagttct 3-11-4 GTTtaaatttcaagTTCT 665_1 16185 −19 666 ccaagtttaaatttcaag 4-10-4 CCAAgtttaaatttCAAG 666_1 16189 −21 667 acccaagtttaaatttc 4-9-4 ACCCaagtttaaaTTTC 667_1 16192 −22 668 catacagtgacccaagttt 2-14-3 CAtacagtgacccaagTTT 668_1 16199 −23 669 acatcccatacagtga 2-11-3 ACatcccatacagTGA 669_1 16208 −21 670 agcacagctctacatc 2-10-4 AGcacagctctaCATC 670_1 16219 −22 671 atatagcacagctcta 3-9-4 ATAtagcacagcTCTA 671_1 16223 −21 672 tccatatagcacagct 3-11-2 TCCatatagcacagCT 672_1 16226 −22 673 atttccatatagcaca 3-9-4 ATTtccatatagCACA 673_1 16229 −20 674 tttatttccatatagca 4-9-4 TTTAtttccatatAGCA 674_1 16231 −22 675 tttatttccatatagc 3-10-3 TTTatttccatatAGC 675_1 16232 −18 676 aaggagaggagattatg 4-9-4 AAGGagaggagatTATG 676_1 16409 −21 677 agttcttgtgttagct 3-11-2 AGTtcttgtgttagCT 677_1 16456 −21 678 gagttcttgtgttagc 2-12-2 GAgttcttgtgttaGC 678_1 16457 −20 679 attaattatccatccac 3-10-4 ATTaattatccatCCAC 679_1 16590 −21 680 atcaattaattatccatc 3-11-4 ATCaattaattatcCATC 680_1 16593 −19 681 agaatcaattaattatcc 3-12-3 AGAatcaattaattaTCC 681_1 16596 −18 682 tgagataccgtgcatg 2-12-2 TGagataccgtgcaTG 682_1 16656 −18 683 aatgagataccgtgca 2-10-4 AAtgagataccgTGCA 683_1 16658 −21 684 ctgtggttaggctaat 3-11-2 CTGtggttaggctaAT 684_1 16834 −19 685 aagagtaagggtctgtggtt 1-17-2 AagagtaagggtctgtggTT 685_1 16842 −21 686 gatgggttaagagtaa 4-9-3 GATGggttaagagTAA 686_1 16854 −19 687 agcagatgggttaaga 3-11-2 AGCagatgggttaaGA 687_1 16858 −20 688 tgtaaacatttgtagc 2-10-4 TGtaaacatttgTAGC 688_1 16886 −19 689 cctgcttataaatgta 3-11-2 CCTgcttataaatgTA 689_1 16898 −19 690 tgccctgcttataaat 4-10-2 TGCCctgcttataaAT 690_1 16901 −23 691 tcttcttagttcaata 2-12-2 TCttcttagttcaaTA 691_1 16935 −15 692 tggtttctaactacat 2-10-4 TGgtttctaactACAT 692_1 16980 −18 693 agtttggtttctaacta 2-12-3 AGtttggtttctaaCTA 693_1 16983 −19 694 gaatgaaacttgcctg 3-10-3 GAAtgaaacttgcCTG 694_1 17047 −18 695 attatccttacatgat 3-10-3 ATTatccttacatGAT 695_1 17173 −17 696 gtacccaattatcctt 2-11-3 GTacccaattatcCTT 696_1 17180 −21 697 tgtacccaattatcct 3-10-3 TGTacccaattatCCT 697_1 17181 −24 698 ttgtacccaattatcc 2-11-3 TTgtacccaattaTCC 698_1 17182 −20 699 tttgtacccaattatc 3-11-2 TTTgtacccaattaTC 699_1 17183 −17 700 agcagcaggttatatt 4-10-2 AGCAgcaggttataTT 700_1 17197 −22 701 tgggaagtggtctggg 3-10-3 TGGgaagtggtctGGG 701_1 17292 −25 702 ctggagagtgataata 3-11-2 CTGgagagtgataaTA 702_1 17322 −17 703 aatgctggattacgtc 4-10-2 AATGctggattacgTC 703_1 17354 −19 704 caatgctggattacgt 2-11-3 CAatgctggattaCGT 704_1 17355 −19 705 ttgttcagaagtatcc 2-10-4 TTgttcagaagtATCC 705_1 17625 −19 706 gatgatttgcttggag 2-10-4 GAtgatttgcttGGAG 706_1 17646 −21 707 gaaatcattcacaacc 3-10-3 GAAatcattcacaACC 707_1 17860 −17 708 ttgtaacatctactac 3-10-3 TTGtaacatctacTAC 708_1 17891 −16 709 cattaagcagcaagtt 3-11-2 CATtaagcagcaagTT 709_1 17923 −17 710 ttactagatgtgagca 3-11-2 TTActagatgtgagCA 710_1 17942 −18 711 tttactagatgtgagc 2-11-3 TTtactagatgtgAGC 711_1 17943 −18 712 gaccaagcaccttaca 3-11-2 GACcaagcaccttaCA 7i2_1 17971 −22 713 agaccaagcaccttac 3-10-3 AGAccaagcacctTAC 713_1 17972 −22 714 atgggttaaataaagg 2-10-4 ATgggttaaataAAGG 714_1 18052 −15 715 tcaaccagagtattaa 2-12-2 TCaaccagagtattAA 715_1 18067 −13 716 gtcaaccagagtatta 3-11-2 GTCaaccagagtatTA 716_1 18068 −18 717 attgtaaagctgatat 2-11-3 ATtgtaaagctgaTAT 717_1 18135 −14 718 cacataattgtaaagc 2-10-4 CAcataattgtaAAGC 718_1 18141 −16 719 gaggtctgctatttac 2-11-3 GAggtctgctattTAC 719_1 18274 −19 720 tgtagattcaatgcct 2-11-3 TGtagattcaatgCCT 720_1 18404 −20 721 cctcattatactatga 2-11-3 CCtcattatactaTGA 721_1 18456 −19 722 ccttatgctatgacac 2-12-2 CCttatgctatgacAC 722_1 18509 −18 723 tccttatgctatgaca 4-10-2 TCCTtatgctatgaCA 723_1 18510 −22 724 aagatgtttaagtata 3-10-3 AAGatgtttaagtATA 724_1 18598 −13 725 ctgattattaagatgt 2-10-4 CTgattattaagATGT 725_1 18607 −17 726 tggaaaggtatgaatt 2-12-2 TGgaaaggtatgaaTT 726_1 18808 −13 727 acttgaatggcttgga 2-12-2 ACttgaatggcttgGA 727_1 18880 −18 728 aacttgaatggcttgg 3-10-3 AACttgaatggctTGG 728_1 18881 −19 729 caatgtgttactattt 4-10-2 CAATgtgttactatTT 729_1 19004 −16 730 acaatgtgttactatt 3-10-3 ACAatgtgttactATT 730_1 19005 −15 731 catctgctatataaga 4-10-2 CATCtgctatataaGA 731_1 19063 −18 732 cctagagcaaatactt 4-10-2 CCTAgagcaaatacTT 732_1 19223 −20 733 cagagttaataataag 3-10-3 CAGagttaataatAAG 733_1 19327 −13 734 gttcaagcacaacgaa 4-10-2 GTTCaagcacaacgAA 734_1 19493 −18 735 agggttcaagcacaac 2-11-3 AGggttcaagcacAAC 735_1 19496 −18 736 tgttggagacactgtt 2-12-2 TGttggagacactgTT 736_1 19677 −17 737 aaggaggagttaggac 3-11-2 AAGgaggagttaggAC 737_1 19821 −18 738 ctatgccatttacgat 4-10-2 CTATgccatttacgAT 738_1 19884 −21 739 tcaaatgcagaattag 2-12-2 TCaaatgcagaattAG 739_1 19913 −12 740 agtgacaatcaaatgc 2-10-4 AGtgacaatcaaATGC 740_1 19921 −18 741 aagtgacaatcaaatg 2-11-3 AAgtgacaatcaaATG 741_1 19922 −12 742 gtgtaccaagtaacaa 3-11-2 GTGtaccaagtaacAA 742_1 19978 −16 743 tgggatgttaaactga 3-10-3 TGGgatgttaaacTGA 743_1 20037 −20 Motif sequences represent the contiguous sequence of nucleobases present in the oligonucleotide.

Designs refer to the gapmer design, F-G-F′, where each number represents the number of consecutive modified nucleosides, e.g. 2′ modified nucleosides (first number=5′ flank), followed by the number of DNA nucleosides (second number=gap region), followed by the number of modified nucleosides, e.g. 2′ modified nucleosides (third number=3′ flank), optionally preceded by or followed by further repeated regions of DNA and LNA, which are not necessarily part of the contiguous sequence that is complementary to the target nucleic acid.

Oligonucleotide compounds represent specific designs of a motif sequence. Capital letters represent beta-D-oxy LNA nucleosides, lowercase letters represent DNA nucleosides, all LNA C are 5-methyl cytosine, all internucleoside linkages are phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages.

TABLE 6 Oligonucleotides targeting mouse PD-L1 transcript (SEQ ID NO: 4) designs of these, as well as specific oligonucleotide compounds (indicated by CMP ID NO) designed based on the motif sequence. SEQ Oligonucleotide CMP Start on SEQ ID NO Motif sequence Design Compound ID NO ID NO: 4 dG 744 agtttacattttctgc 3-10-3 AGTttacattttcTGC 744_1 4189 −20 745 tatgtgaagaggagag 3-10-3 TATgtgaagaggaGAG 745_1 7797 −19 746 cacctttaaaacccca 3-10-3 CACctttaaaaccCCA 746_1 9221 −23 747 tcctttataatcacac 3-10-3 TCCtttataatcaCAC 747_1 10386 −19 748 acggtattttcacagg 3-10-3 ACGgtattttcacAGG 748_1 12389 −21 749 gacactacaatgagga 3-10-3 GACactacaatgaGGA 749_1 15088 −20 750 tggtttttaggactgt 3-10-3 TGGtttttaggacTGT 750_1 16410 −21 751 cgacaaattctatcct 3-10-3 CGAcaaattctatCCT 751_1 18688 −20 752 tgatatacaatgctac 3-10-3 TGAtatacaatgcTAC 752_1 18735 −16 753 tcgttgggtaaattta 3-10-3 TCGttgggtaaatTTA 753_1 19495 −17 754 tgctttataaatggtg 3-10-3 TGCtttataaatgGTG 754_1 19880 −19 Motif sequences represent the contiguous sequence of nucleobases present in the oligonucleotide.

Designs refer to the gapmer design, F-G-F′, where each number represents the number of consecutive modified nucleosides, e.g. 2′ modified nucleosides (first number=5′ flank), followed by the number of DNA nucleosides (second number=gap region), followed by the number of modified nucleosides, e.g. 2′ modified nucleosides (third number=3′ flank), optionally preceded by or followed by further repeated regions of DNA and LNA, which are not necessarily part of the contiguous sequence that is complementary to the target nucleic acid.

Oligonucleotide compounds represent specific designs of a motif sequence. Capital letters represent beta-D-oxy LNA nucleosides, lowercase letters represent DNA nucleosides, all LNA C are 5-methyl cytosine, all internucleoside linkages are phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages.

TABLE 7 Oligonucleotide motif sequences and antisense compounds with 5′ ca biocleavable linker. SEQ ID NO motif sequence oligonucleotide compound with ca linker CMP ID NO 755 caagtttacattttctgc c_(o)a_(o)AGTttacattttcTGC 755_1 756 catatgtgaagaggagag c_(o)a_(o)TATgtgaagaggaGAG 756_1 757 cacctttaaaacccca c_(o)a_(o)CACctttaaaaccCCA 757_1 758 catcctttataatcacac c_(o)a_(o)TCCtttataatcaCAC 758_1 759 caacggtattttcacagg c_(o)a_(o)ACGgtattttcacAGG 759_1 760 cagacactacaatgagga c_(o)a_(o)GACactacaatgaGGA 760_1 761 catggtttttaggactgt c_(o)a_(o)TGGtttttaggacTGT 761_1 762 cacgacaaattctatcct c_(o)a_(o)CGAcaaattctatCCT 762_1 763 catgatatacaatgctac c_(o)a_(o)TGAtatacaatgcTAC 763_1 764 catcgttgggtaaattta c_(o)a_(o)TCGttgggtaaatTTA 764_1 765 catgctttataaatggtg c_(o)a_(o)TGCtttataaatgGTG 765_1 766 caacaaataatggttactct c_(o)a_(o)ACAAataatggttaCTCT 766_1 767 cacagattgatggtagtt c_(o)a_(o)CAGAttgatggtagTT 767_1 768 cacctatttaacatcagac c_(o)a_(o)CCtatttaacatcAGAC 768_1 769 cactaattgtagtagtactc c_(o)a_(o)CTAattgtagtagtaCTC 769_1 770 caataaacatgaatctctcc c_(o)a_(o)ATaaacatgaatctCTCC 770_1

Capital letters represent beta-D-oxy LNA nucleosides, lowercase letters represent DNA nucleosides, all LNA C are 5-methyl cytosine, subscript o represent a phosphodiester internucleoside linkage and unless otherwise indicated other internucleoside linkages are phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages.

TABLE 8 GalNAc conjugated antisense oligonucleotide compounds. antisense oligonucleotide conjugate CMP ID NO GN2-C6_(o)c_(o)a_(o)AGTttacattttcTGC 755_2 GN2-C6_(o)c_(o)a_(o)TATgtgaagaggaGAG 756_2 GN2-C6_(o)c_(o)a_(o)CACctttaaaaccCCA 757_2 GN2-C6_(o)c_(o)a_(o)TCCtttataatcaCAC 758_2 GN2-C6_(o)c_(o)a_(o)ACGgtattttcacAGG 759_2 GN2-C6_(o)c_(o)a_(o)GACactacaatgaGGA 760_2 GN2-C6_(o)c_(o)a_(o)TGGtttttaggacTGT 761_2 GN2-C6_(o)c_(o)a_(o)CGAcaaattetatCCT 762_2 GN2-c6_(o)c_(o)a_(o)TGAtatacaatgcTAC 763_2 GN2-C6_(o)c_(o)a_(o)TCGttgggtaaatTTA 764_2 GN2-C6_(o)c_(o)a_(o)TGCtttataaatgGTG 765_2 GN2-C6_(o)c_(o)a_(o)ACAAataatggttaCTCT 766_2 GN2-C6_(o)c_(o)a_(o)CAGAttgatggtagTT 767_2 GN2-C6_(o)c_(o)a_(o)CCtatttaacatcAGAC 768_2 GN2-C6_(o)c_(o)a_(o)CTAattgtagtagtaCTC 769_2 GN2-C6_(o)c_(o)a_(o)ATaaacatgaatctCTCC 770_2

GN2 represents the trivalent GalNAc cluster shown in FIG. 3, C6 represents an amino alkyl group with 6 carbons, capital letters represent beta-D-oxy LNA nucleosides, lowercase letters represent DNA nucleosides, all LNA C are 5-methyl cytosine, subscript o represent a phosphodiester nucleoside linkage and unless otherwise indicated internucleoside linkages are phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages. Chemical drawings representing some of the molecules are shown in FIGS. 4 to 8.

AAV/HBV Mouse Models Pasteur Model:

HLA-A2.1-/HLA-DR1-transgenic H-2 class I-/class II-knockout (here referred to as HLA-A2/DR1) mice were created and bred at the Institut Pasteur. These mice represent an in vivo experimental model for human immune function studies without any interference with mouse MHC response (Pajot et al 2004 Eur J Immunol. 34(11):3060-9.

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector, AAV serotype 2/8 carrying a replication competent HBV DNA genome was used in these studies. The AAV-HBV vector (batch GVPN #6163) was diluted in sterile Phosphate buffered Saline (PBS) to reach a titer of 5×10¹¹ vg/mL. Mice were injected intravenously (i.v.) with 100 μL of this diluted solution (dose/mouse: 5×10¹⁰ vg) in a tail vein. Complete viral particles containing HBV DNA were detected in the blood of HBV-carrier mice. HBcAg was detected for up to one year in the liver together with HBV circulating proteins HBeAg and HBsAg in the blood. In all AAV2/8-HBV-transduced mice, HBsAg, HBeAg, and HBV DNA persisted in serum for at least one year (Dion et al 2013 J Virol 87:5554-5563).

Shanghai Model:

In this model, mice infected with a recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) carrying the HBV genome (AAV/HBV) maintains stable viremia and antigenimia for more than 30 weeks (Dan Yang, et al. 2014 Cellular & Molecular Immunology 11, 71-78).

Male C57BL/6 mice (4-6 weeks old), specific pathogen free, were purchased from SLAC (Shanghai Laboratory Animal Center of Chinese Academy of Sciences) and housed in an animal care facility in individually ventilated cages. Guidelines were followed for the care and use of animals as indicated by WuXi IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, WUXI IACUC protocol number R20131126-Mouse). Mice were allowed to acclimate to the new environment for 3 days and are grouped according to the experimental design.

Recombinant AAV-HBV was diluted in PBS, 200 μL per injection. This recombinant virus carries 1.3 copies of the HBV genome (genotype D, serotype ayw).

On day 0, all mice were injected through tail vein with 200 μL AAV-HBV. On days 6, 13 and 20 after AAV injection, all mice in were submandibularly bled (0.1 ml blood/mouse) for serum collection. On day 22 post injection, mice with stable viremia were ready for oligonucleotide treatment. The oligonucleotides can be unconjugated or GalNAc conjugated.

DNA Vaccine

Plasmid DNA were endotoxin-free and manufactured by Plasmid-Factory (Germany). pCMV-S2.S ayw encodes the preS2 and S domains of the HBsAg (genotype D), and its expression is controlled by the cytomegalovirus immediate early gene promoter (Michel et al 1995 Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 92:5307-5311). pCMV-HBc encodes the HBV capsid carrying the hepatitis core (HBc) Ag (Dion et al 2013 J Virol 87:5554-5563).

Treatment with DNA vaccine was conducted as described here. Five days prior to vaccination cardiotoxine (CaTx, Latoxan refL81-02, 50 μl/muscle) was injected into the muscle of the mice. CaTx depolarizees the muscular fibers to induce cell degeneration, 5 days post injection, new muscular fibers will appear and will receive the DNA vaccine for a better efficacy for transfection. The pCMV-S2.S ayw and pCMVCore at 1 mg/ml each were mixed in equal amount and each mouse received a total of 100 μg by bilateral intramuscular injection into cardiotoxin-treated tibialis anterior muscles as previously described in Michel et al 1995 Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 92:5307-5311, under anesthesia (100 μL of 12.5 mg/mL ketamine, 1.25 mg/mL xylazine).

Anti-PD-L1 Antibody

This is a mouse anti mouse PD-L1 IgG1 antibody clone 6E11 internally produced at Genetech. It is a surrogate antibody that cross blocks Atezolizumab and has similar in vitro blocking activity Atezolizumab produced internally at Roche. The antibody was administered by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection at a dose of 12.5 μg/g.

Oligonucleotide Synthesis

Oligonucleotide synthesis is generally known in the art. Below is a protocol which may be applied. The oligonucleotides of the present invention may have been produced by slightly varying methods in terms of apparatus, support and concentrations used.

Oligonucleotides are synthesized on uridine universal supports using the phosphoramidite approach on an Oligomaker 48 at 1 μmol scale. At the end of the synthesis, the oligonucleotides are cleaved from the solid support using aqueous ammonia for 5-16 hours at 60° C. The oligonucleotides are purified by reverse phase HPLC (RP-HPLC) or by solid phase extractions and characterized by UPLC, and the molecular mass is further confirmed by ESI-MS.

Elongation of the Oligonucleotide:

The coupling of β-cyanoethyl-phosphoramidites (DNA-A(Bz), DNA-G(ibu), DNA-C(Bz), DNA-T, LNA-5-methyl-C(Bz), LNA-A(Bz), LNA-G(dmf), or LNA-T) is performed by using a solution of 0.1 M of the 5′-O-DMT-protected amidite in acetonitrile and DCI (4,5-dicyanoimidazole) in acetonitrile (0.25 M) as activator. For the final cycle a phosphoramidite with desired modifications can be used, e.g. a C6 linker for attaching a conjugate group or a conjugate group as such. Thiolation for introduction of phosphorthioate linkages is carried out by using xanthane hydride (0.01 M in acetonitrile/pyridine 9:1). Phosphordiester linkages can be introduced using 0.02 M iodine in THF/Pyridine/water 7:2:1. The rest of the reagents are the ones typically used for oligonucleotide synthesis.

For post solid phase synthesis conjugation a commercially available C6 amino linker phosphoramidite can be used in the last cycle of the solid phase synthesis and after deprotection and cleavage from the solid support the aminolinked deprotected oligonucleotide is isolated. The conjugates are introduced via activation of the functional group using standard synthesis methods.

Alternatively, the conjugate moiety can be added to the oligonucleotide while still on the solid support by using a GalNAc- or GalNAc-cluster phosphoramidite as described in PCT/EP2015/073331 or in EP appl. NO. 15194811.4.

Purification by RP-HPLC:

The crude compounds are purified by preparative RP-HPLC on a Phenomenex Jupiter 018 10μ 150×10 mm column. 0.1 M ammonium acetate pH 8 and acetonitrile is used as buffers at a flow rate of 5 mL/min. The collected fractions are lyophilized to give the purified compound typically as a white solid.

ABBREVIATIONS

-   DCI: 4,5-Dicyanoimidazole -   DCM: Dichloromethane -   DMF: Dimethylformamide -   DMT: 4,4′-Dimethoxytrityl -   THF: Tetrahydrofurane -   Bz: Benzoyl -   Ibu: Isobutyryl -   RP-HPLC: Reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography

T_(m) Assay

Oligonucleotide and RNA target (phosphate linked, PO) duplexes are diluted to 3 mM in 500 ml RNase-free water and mixed with 500 ml 2×T_(m)-buffer (200 mM NaCl, 0.2 mM EDTA, 20 mM Naphosphate, pH 7.0). The solution is heated to 95° C. for 3 min and then allowed to anneal in room temperature for 30 min. The duplex melting temperatures (T_(m)) is measured on a Lambda UV/VIS Spectrophotometer equipped with a Peltier temperature programmer PTP6 using PE Templab software (Perkin Elmer). The temperature is ramped up from 20° C. to 95° C. and then down to 25° C., recording absorption at 260 nm. First derivative and the local maximums of both the melting and annealing are used to assess the duplex T_(m).

Tissue Specific In Vitro Linker Cleavage Assay

FAM-labeled oligonucleotides with the biocleavable linker to be tested (e.g. a DNA phosphodiester linker (PO linker)) are subjected to in vitro cleavage using homogenates of the relevant tissues (e.g. liver or kidney) and Serum.

The tissue and serum samples are collected from a suitable animal (e.g. mice, monkey, pig or rat) and homogenized in a homogenisation buffer (0.5% Igepal CA-630, 25 mM Tris pH 8.0, 100 mM NaCl, pH 8.0 (adjusted with 1 N NaOH). The tissue homogenates and Serum are spiked with oligonucleotide to concentrations of 200 μg/g tissue. The samples are incubated for 24 hours at 37° C. and thereafter the samples are extracted with phenol-chloroform. The solutions are subjected to AIE HPLC analyses on a Dionex Ultimate 3000 using an Dionex DNApac p-100 column and a gradient ranging from 10 mM-1 M sodium perchlorate at pH 7.5. The content of cleaved and non-cleaved oligonucleotide are determined against a standard using both a fluorescence detector at 615 nm and a uv detector at 260 nm.

S1 Nuclease Cleavage Assay

FAM-labelled oligonucleotides with S1 nuclease susceptible linkers (e.g. a DNA phosphodiester linker (PO linker)) are subjected to in vitro cleavage in S1 nuclease extract or Serum.

100 μM of the oligonucleotides are subjected to in vitro cleavage by S1 nuclease in nuclease buffer (60 U pr. 100 μL) for 20 and 120 minutes. The enzymatic activity is stopped by adding EDTA to the buffer solution. The solutions are subjected to AIE HPLC analyses on a Dionex Ultimate 3000 using an Dionex DNApac p-100 column and a gradient ranging from 10 mM-1 M sodium perchlorate at pH 7.5. The content of cleaved and non-cleaved oligonucleotide is determined against a standard using both a fluorescence detector at 615 nm and a uv detector at 260 nm.

Preparation of Liver Mononuclear Cells

Liver cells from AAV/HBV mice were prepared as described below and according to a method described by Tupin et al 2006 Methods Enzymol 417:185-201 with minor modifications. After mouse euthanasia, the liver was perfused with 10 ml of sterile PBS via hepatic portal vein using syringe with G25 needle. When organ is pale, the organ was harvested in Hank's Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) (GIBCO® HBSS, 24020)+5% decomplemented fetal calf serum (FCS). The harvested liver was gently pressed through 100 μm cell-strainer (BD Falcon, 352360) and cells were suspended in 30 ml of HBSS+5% FCS. Cell suspension was centrifuged at 50 g for 5 min. Supernatants were then centrifuged at 289 g for 10 min at 4° C. After centrifugation, supernatants were discarded and pellets were re-suspended in 15 mL at room temperature in a 35% isotonic Percoll solution (GE Healthcare Percoll #17-0891-01 diluted into RPMI 1640 (GIBCO, 31870)) and transferred to a 15 ml tube. Cells were further centrifuged at 1360 g for 25 min at room temperature. The supernatant was discarded by aspiration and the pellet containing mononuclear cells was washed twice with HBSS+5% FCS.

Cells were cultured in complete medium (a-minimal essential medium (Gibco, 22571) supplemented with 10% FCS (Hyclone, # SH30066, lot APG21570), 100 U/mL penicillin+100 μg/mL streptomycin+0.3 mg/mL L-glutamine (Gibco, 10378), 1× non-essential amino acids (Gibco, 11140), 10 mM Hepes (Gibco, 15630), 1 mM sodium pyruvate (Gibco, 11360) and 50 μM β-mercaptoethanol (LKB, 1830)).

Surface Labeling of Cells

Cells were seeded in U-bottom 96-well plates and washed with PBS FACS (PBS containing 1% bovine serum albumin and 0.01% sodium azide). Cells were incubated with 5 μL of PBS FACS containing a rat anti-mouse CD16/CD32 antibody and a viability marker LD fixable yellow, Thermofisher, L34959 for 10 min in the dark at 4° C. Then, cells were stained for 20 min in the dark at 4° C. with 25 μL of PBS FACS containing monoclonal antibodies (Mab) against NK P46 BV421 (Rat Mab anti mouse NK P46, Biolegend, 137612) and F4/80 (rat Mab anti-mouse F4/80 FITC, BD Biolegend, 123108) and two supplemental surface markers: PD1 (rat Mab anti-mouse PD1 PE, BD Biosciences, 551892) and PDL1 (rat Mab anti-mouse PDL1 BV711, Biolegend, 124319) were also added.

Intracelluar Cytokine Staining (ICS) Assay

ICS assays were performed on both splenocytes and liver mononuclear cells. Cells were seeded in Ubottom 96-well plates. Plates with cells were incubated overnight at 37° C. either in complete medium alone as negative control or with the peptides described in Table 9 at a concentration of 2 μg/ml. Brefeldin A at 2 μg/mL (Sigma, B6542) was added after one hour of incubation.

After the overnight culture, cells were washed with PBS FACS and incubated with 5 μL of PBS FACS containing rat anti-mouse CD16/CD32 antibody and a viability marker LD fixable yellow, Thermofisher, L34959 for 10 min in the dark at 4° C. Then, cells were stained for 20 min in the dark at 4° C. with 25 μL of PBS FACS containing Mab. The mix was composed of monoclonal antibodies against CD3 (hamster Mab anti-mouse CD3-PerCP, BD Biosciences, 553067), CD8 (rat Mab anti-mouse CD8-APC-H7, BD Biosciences, 560182), CD4 (rat Mab anti-mouse CD4-PE-Cy7, BD Biosciences, 552775), and NK cells (Rat Mab anti mouse NK P46 BV421, Biolegend, 137612). Cells were fixed after several washes and permeabilized for 20 min in the dark at room temperature with Cytofix/Cytoperm, washed with Perm/Wash solution (BD Biosciences, 554714) at 4° C.

Intracellular cytokine staining with antibodies against IFNγ (rat Mab anti-mouse IFNγ-APC, clone XMG1.2, BD Biosciences, 554413) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) (rat Mab anti-mouse TNFα-FITC, clone MP6-XT22; 1/250 (BD Biosciences 554418) was performed for 30 min in the dark at 4° C. Before analysis by flow cytometry using the MACSQuant Analyzer, cells were washed with Perm/Wash and re-suspended in PBS FACS containing 1% Formaldehyde.

Live CD3+CD8+CD4- and cells CD3+CD8-CD4+ were gated and presented on dot-plot. Two regions were defined to gate for positive cells for each cytokine. Numbers of events found in these gates were divided by total number of events in parental population to yield percentages of responding T cells. For each mouse, the percentage obtained in medium alone was considered as background and subtracted from the percentage obtained with peptide stimulations.

Threshold of positivity was defined according to experiment background i.e. the mean percentage of stained cells obtained for each group in medium alone condition plus two standard deviations. Only percentage of cytokine represented at least 5 events were considered as positive.

TABLE 9 HLA-A2/DR1 restricted epitopes contained in the HBV Core protein and the Envelope domains of the HBsAg (S2 + S). Start End HLA Protein Position Position Sequence restriction References Core 18 27 FLPSDFFPSV A2 Bertoletti et al (SEQ ID NO: 773) Gastroenterology 1997; 112: 193-199 111 125 GRETVLEYLVSFGVW DR1 (Bertoletti et al (SEQ ID NO: 774) Gastroenterology 1997; 112: 193-199 Envelope 114 128 TTFHQTLQDPRVRGL DR1 Pajot et al Microbes (S2 + S) (SEQ ID NO: 775) Infect 2006; 8: 2783- 2790. 179 194 QAGFFLLTRILTIPQS A2 + DR1 Pajot et al Microbes (SEQ ID NO: 776) Infect 2006; 8: 2783- 2790. 183 191 FLLTRILTI A2 Sette et al J Immunol (SEQ ID NO: 777) 1994; 153: 5586-5592. 200 214 TSLNFLGGTTVCLGQ A2 + DR1 Pajot et al Microbes (SEQ ID NO: 778) Infect 2006; 8: 2783- 2790. 204 212 FLGGTTVCL A2 Rehermann et al J (SEQ ID NO: 779) Exp Med 1995; 181: 1047-1058. 335 343 WLSLLVPFV A2 Nayersina et alJ (SEQ ID NO: 780) Immunol 1993; 150: 4659-4671. 337 357 SLLVPFVQWFVGLSPTVWLSV A2 + DR1 Loirat et al J Immunol (SEQ ID NO: 781) 2000; 165: 4748-4755 348 357 GLSPTVWLSV A2 Loirat et al J Immunol (SEQ ID NO: 782) 2000; 165: 4748-4755 370 379 SILSPFLPLL A2 Mizukoshi et al J (SEQ ID NO: 783) Immunol 2004; 173: 5863-5871.

Example 1 Testing In Vitro Efficacy

A gene walk was performed across the human PD-L1 transcript primarily using 16 to 20mer gapmers. Efficacy testing was performed in an in vitro experiment in the human leukemia monocytic cell line THP1 and in the human non-Hodgkin's K lymphoma cell line (KARPAS-299).

Cell Lines

THP1 and Karpas-299 cell line were originally purchased from European Collection of Authenticated Cell Cultures (ECACC) and maintained as recommended by the supplier in a humidified incubator at 37° C. with 5% CO₂.

Oligonucleotide Efficacy

THP-1 cells (3.104 in RPMI-GLutamax, 10% FBS, 1% Pen-Strep (Thermo Fisher Scientific) were added to the oligonucleotides (4-5 ul) into 96-well round bottom plates and cultured for 6 days in a final volume of 100 μl/well. Oligonucleotides were screened at one single concentration (20 μM) and in dose-range concentrations from 25 μM to 0.004 μM (1:3 dilution in water). Total mRNA was extracted using the MagNA Pure 96 Cellular RNA Large Volume Kit on the MagNA Pure 96 System (Roche Diagnostics) according to the manufacturer's instructions.

For gene expression analysis, RT-qPCR was performed using the TaqMan RNA-to-ct 1-Step kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific) on the QuantStudio machine (Applied Biosystems) with pre-designed Taqman primers targeting human PDL1 and ACTB used as endogenous control (Thermo Fisher Scientific). The relative PD-L1 mRNA expression level was calculated using 2(-Delta Delta C(T)) method and the percentage of inhibition as the % compared to the control sample (non-treated cells).

Karpas-299 cells were cultured in RPMI 1640, 2 mM Glutamine and 20% FBS (Sigma). The cells were plated at 10000 cell/well in 96 wells plates incubated for 24 hours before addition of oligonucleotides dissolved in PBS. Final concentration of oligonucleotides was in a single dose of 5 μM, in a final culture volume was 100 μl/well or added in a dose response ranging from 50 μM, 15.8 μM, 5.0 μM, 1.58 μM, 0.5 μM, 0.158 μM, 0.05 μM, to 0.0158 μM in 100 μL culture volume. The cells were harvested 3 days after addition of oligonucleotide compounds and RNA was extracted using the PureLink Pro 96 RNA Purification kit (Ambion), according to the manufacturer's instructions. cDNA was synthesized using M-MLT Reverse Transcriptase, random decamers RETROscript, RNase inhibitor (Ambion) and 100 mM dNTP set (Invitrogen, PCR Grade) according to the manufacturer's instruction. For gene expressions analysis, qPCR was performed using TaqMan Fast Advanced Master Mix (2×) (Ambion) in a duplex set up with TaqMan primer assays for the PD-L1 (Applied Biosystems; Hs01125299_m1) and TBP (Applied Biosystems; 4325803). The relative PD-L1 mRNA expression level is shown in table 10 as % of control sample (PBS-treated cells).

TABLE 10 in vitro efficacy of anti-PD-L1 compounds in THP1 and KARPAS-299 cell lines (Average from n = 3 experiments). PD-L1 mRNA levels are normalized to TBP in KARPAS-299 cells or ACTB in THP1 cells and shown as % of control (PBS treated cells). KARPAS-299 cells THP1 cells 5 μM CMP 20 μM CMP Start on CMP % mRNA % mRNA SEQ ID ID NO of control sd of control sd Compound (CMP) NO 1 4_1 50 1 32 11 TAattggctctacTGC 236 5_1 25 5 9 6 TCGCataagaatgaCT 371 6_1 29 2 15 5 TGaacacacagtcgCA 382 7_1 27 7 3 1 CTGaacacacagtCGC 383 8_1 23 4 11 3 TCTgaacacacagtCG 384 9_1 32 3 19 6 TTCtgaacacacagTC 385 10_1 57 5 39 16 ACaagtcatgttaCTA 463 11_1 75 5 37 12 ACacaagtcatgttAC 465 12_1 22 2 10 3 CTtacttagatgcTGC 495 13_1 33 4 23 11 ACttacttagatgCTG 496 14_1 33 7 21 6 GACttacttagatgCT 497 15_1 41 6 18 10 AGacttacttagaTGC 498 16_1 96 14 40 7 GCAggaagagactTAC 506 17_1 22 2 9 3 AATAaattccgttCAGG 541 18_1 34 6 21 9 GCAAataaattcCGTT 545 18_2 51 4 27 11 GCAaataaattccGTT 545 19_1 38 5 23 7 AGCAaataaattcCGT 546 20_1 73 8 56 15 CAGAgcaaataaatTCC 548 21_1 83 8 65 10 TGGAcagagcaaataAAT 551 22_1 86 6 80 8 ATGGacagagcaAATA 554 23_1 44 4 30 2 CAgaatggacagaGCA 558 24_1 63 10 40 11 TTCtcagaatggacAG 562 25_1 31 1 39 5 CTGAactttgacATAG 663 26_1 60 4 56 19 AAgacaaacccagacTGA 675 27_1 36 4 34 10 TATAagacaaacccAGAC 678 28_1 40 4 28 13 TTATaagacaaaccCAGA 679 29_1 30 2 18 6 TGTTataagacaaaCCC 682 30_1 77 3 67 10 TAGAacaatggtaCTTT 708 31_1 81 17 20 14 GTAGaacaatggtaCT 710 32_1 29 5 14 8 AGGtagaacaatgGTA 712 33_1 32 1 43 20 AAGAggtagaacaATGG 714 34_1 70 4 35 13 GCatccacagtaaaTT 749 35_1 83 2 66 21 GAaggttatttaaTTC 773 36_1 18 2 15 5 CTAAtcgaatgcaGCA 805 37_1 64 7 35 10 TACccaatctaatCGA 813 38_1 69 1 49 13 TAGttacccaatcTAA 817 39_1 49 5 26 9 CATttagttacccAAT 821 40_1 23 7 8 2 TCAtttagttaccCAA 822 41_1 24 6 12 3 TTcatttagttaCCCA 823 42_1 51 7 40 5 GAATtaatttcattTAGT 829 43_1 71 9 45 3 CAGTgaggaattaATTT 837 44_1 60 5 45 17 CCAAcagtgaggAATT 842 45_1 63 1 37 15 CCCaacagtgaggAAT 843 46_1 31 3 29 12 TAtacccaacagtgAGG 846 47_1 44 3 27 0 TTatacccaacagTGAG 847 48_1 38 3 26 6 TTTatacccaacagTGA 848 49_1 20 4 7 1 CCTttatacccaaCAG 851 50_1 22 3 6 2 TAACctttatacCCAA 854 51_1 28 1 29 16 AATaacctttataCCCA 855 52_1 80 11 48 10 GTAaataacctttaTA 859 53_1 54 4 37 14 ACTGtaaataacctTTAT 860 54_1 81 4 53 15 ATAtatatgcaatgAG 903 55_1 86 12 70 15 AGatatatatgcaaTG 905 56_1 56 8 27 7 GAGatatatatgcAAT 906 57_1 28 7 13 5 CCagagatatataTGC 909 58_1 88 13 69 23 CAATattccagagATAT 915 59_1 29 3 14 6 GCAAtattccagagATA 916 60_1 25 3 14 3 AGCaatattccagaGAT 917 61_1 29 4 17 2 CAGcaatattccAGAG 919 62_1 27 3 14 3 AATCagcaatattCCAG 921 63_1 23 6 12 6 ACAAtcagcaataTTCC 923 64_1 53 9 43 15 ACtaagtagttacactTCT 957 65_1 32 5 14 6 CTAAgtagttacactTC 958 66_1 35 4 31 6 GACtaagtagttacaCTT 959 67_1 64 10 55 14 TGActaagtagtTACA 962 68_1 62 11 57 16 CTTTgactaagtagTTA 964 69_1 42 9 59 13 CTCtttgactaagTAG 967 70_1 81 6 56 12 GCTCtttgactaagTA 968 71_1 27 3 39 9 CCttaaatactgtTGAC 1060 72_1 75 5 36 7 CTtaaatactgttgAC 1060 73_1 35 6 43 13 TCCttaaatactgTTG 1062 74_1 57 4 79 25 TCTCcttaaatactgTT 1063 75_1 53 6 28 6 TAtcatagttctCCTT 1073 76_1 26 4 9 2 AGTatcatagttcTCC 1075 77_1 74 5 39 12 GAgtatcatagttCTC 1076 78_1 49 5 35 6 AGagtatcatagTTCT 1077 78_2 74 6 36 8 AGAgtatcatagtTCT 1077 79_1 19 2 19 13 CAGagtatcatagTTC 1078 80_1 23 2 26 2 TTCAgagtatcataGT 1080 81_1 35 3 36 11 CTTcagagtatcATAG 1081 82_1 24 6 20 7 TTCTtcagagtatcaTA 1082 83_1 20 2 16 2 TTTcttcagagtaTCAT 1083 84_1 33 4 37 10 GAGAaaggctaagTTT 1099 85_1 42 2 35 18 GAcactcttgtaCATT 1213 86_1 50 4 54 8 TGagacactcttgtaCA 1215 87_1 50 8 28 8 TGagacactcttgTAC 1216 88_1 61 4 33 6 CTttattaaactCCAT 1266 89_1 71 8 43 12 ACCAaactttattaAA 1272 90_1 62 5 42 9 AAACctctactaagTG 1288 91_1 22 3 12 5 AGattaagacagtTGA 1310 92_1 46 3 ND ND AAgtaggagcaagaGGC 1475 93_1 42 4 60 24 AAAGtaggagcaagAGG 1476 94_1 86 15 46 10 GTtaagcagccaggAG 1806 95_1 66 6 82 27 AGggtaggatgggtAG 1842 96_1 83 19 62 36 AAGggtaggatgggTA 1843 97_1 60 9 69 5 CAAgggtaggatggGT 1844 97_2 76 13 34 7 CAagggtaggatggGT 1844 98_1 65 8 76 28 CCaagggtaggatgGG 1845 99_1 61 2 75 17 TCcaagggtaggatGG 1846 100_1 83 4 82 13 CTTCcaagggtaggAT 1848 101_1 45 3 52 14 ATCttccaagggtagGA 1849 102_1 29 2 17 7 AGaagtgatggctCATT 1936 103_1 26 3 22 1 AAGaagtgatggcTCAT 1937 104_1 34 6 22 2 GAAgaagtgatggcTCA 1938 105_1 41 5 21 5 ATGAaatgtaaacTGGG 1955 106_1 40 8 29 6 CAATgaaatgtaaaCTGG 1956 107_1 24 3 16 4 GCAAtgaaatgtaaACTG 1957 108_1 30 4 20 6 AGCAatgaaatgtaAACT 1958 109_1 44 4 34 14 GAGCaatgaaatgtAAAC 1959 110_1 18 1 13 3 TGaattcccatatcCGA 1992 111_1 69 8 35 8 AGaattatgaccaTAT 2010 112_1 77 7 38 10 AGGtaagaattatGACC 2014 113_1 97 10 56 13 TCAGgtaagaattaTGAC 2015 114_1 69 8 54 21 CTTCaggtaagaatTATG 2017 115_1 91 7 115 42 TCTTcaggtaagaATTA 2019 116_1 88 6 104 36 CTTCttcaggtaaGAAT 2021 117_1 85 6 118 17 TCTTcttcaggtaaGAA 2022 118_1 105 14 102 9 TCTtcttcaggtaAGA 2023 119_1 37 2 76 18 TGGtctaagagaaGAAG 2046 120_1 46 6 81 11 GTTGgtctaagagAAG 2049 121_1 74 11 64 4 AGTtggtctaagAGAA 2050 122_1 74 9 55 21 CAgttggtctaagAGAA 2050 123_1 65 9 95 21 GCAgttggtctaagagAA 2050 124_1 63 7 ND ND CAGTtggtctaagaGA 2051 125_1 65 6 ND ND GCagttggtctaagaGA 2051 126_1 67 14 104 34 GCagttggtctaaGAG 2052 127_1 22 6 10 3 CTcatatcagggCAGT 2063 128_1 50 4 46 9 CACAcatgttctttaAC 2087 129_1 22 4 12 12 TAAatacacacatgTTCT 2092 130_1 24 2 43 28 GTAAatacacacatgTTC 2093 131_1 33 3 20 12 TGTAaatacacacaTGTT 2094 132_1 73 17 57 21 GATCatgtaaatacACAC 2099 133_1 47 5 28 14 AGATcatgtaaataCACA 2100 134_1 35 6 26 11 CAAAgatcatgtaaatACAC 2101 135_1 30 2 14 3 ACAAagatcatgtaaaTACA 2102 136_1 52 6 24 18 GAATacaaagatcaTGTA 2108 137_1 33 5 20 6 AGAAtacaaagatcATGT 2109 138_1 37 1 22 15 CAGAatacaaagatCATG 2110 139_1 85 6 53 8 GCAGaatacaaagATCA 2112 140_1 79 4 40 6 AGGCagaatacaaagAT 2114 141_1 56 2 53 20 AAGGcagaatacaaAGA 2115 142_1 28 5 20 5 ATTagtgagggacGAA 2132 143_1 26 2 22 10 CAttagtgagggaCGA 2133 144_1 29 6 16 4 GAgggtgatggatTAG 2218 145_1 45 6 22 5 TTaggagtaataAAGG 2241 146_1 65 7 44 9 TTAatgaatttggtTG 2263 147_1 84 8 43 10 CTttaatgaatttgGT 2265 148_1 32 0 15 3 CATGgattacaactAA 2322 149_1 33 2 20 4 TCatggattacaaCTA 2323 150_1 29 1 11 3 GTCatggattacaaCT 2324 151_1 64 2 40 9 CAttaaatctagTCAT 2335 152_1 97 8 63 22 GACAttaaatctagTCA 2336 153_1 92 7 ND ND AGGGacattaaatcTA 2340 154_1 35 4 25 15 CAAAgcattataaCCA 2372 155_1 34 3 24 6 ACttactaggcaGAAG 2415 156_1 102 6 113 18 CAGAgttaactgtaCA 2545 157_1 102 10 103 15 CCAGagttaactgtAC 2546 158_1 88 7 95 18 GCcagagttaactgTA 2547 159_1 78 10 ND ND TGggccagagttaaCT 2550 160_1 59 5 26 5 CAgcatctatcagaCT 2576 161_1 78 8 42 10 TGAaataacatgagTCAT 2711 162_1 31 6 ND ND GTGaaataacatgAGTC 2713 163_1 18 2 11 3 TCTGtttatgtcacTG 2781 164_1 56 5 29 9 GTCTgtttatgtcaCT 2782 165_1 37 8 12 5 TGgtctgtttatGTCA 2784 166_1 39 1 19 3 TTGGtctgtttatgTC 2785 167_1 41 3 35 14 TCacccattgtttaAA 2842 168_1 18 3 14 4 TTcagcaaatatTCGT 2995 169_1 36 8 13 2 GTGtgttcagcaaATAT 2999 170_1 18 2 11 4 TCTattgttaggtATC 3053 171_1 67 4 26 12 ATtgcccatcttacTG 3118 172_1 71 2 33 9 TATtgcccatcttaCT 3119 173_1 47 4 20 5 AAatattgcccatCTT 3122 174_1 74 4 34 7 ATAaccttatcataCA 3174 175_1 98 19 44 12 TAtaaccttatcaTAC 3175 176_1 100 10 64 11 TTAtaaccttatcaTA 3176 177_1 72 38 28 5 TTTataaccttatCAT 3177 178_1 47 6 34 6 ACtgctattgctaTCT 3375 179_1 41 3 23 6 AGgactgctattgCTA 3378 180_1 32 6 27 7 GAGgactgctattgCT 3379 181_1 83 1 46 20 ACgtagaataataaCA 3561 182_1 94 4 52 9 CCaagtgatataATGG 3613 183_1 49 2 16 3 TTagcagaccaaGTGA 3621 184_1 96 3 26 5 GTttagcagaccaaGT 3623 185_1 78 3 46 10 TGacagtgattataTT 3856 186_1 88 5 45 21 TGTCcaagatattgAC 3868 187_1 46 6 23 6 GAAtatcctagatTGT 4066 188_1 79 3 45 14 CAaactgagaataTCC 4074 189_1 63 5 27 8 GCAaactgagaataTC 4075 190_1 77 9 37 11 TCCtattacaatcgTA 4214 191_1 74 10 36 9 TTCCtattacaatcGT 4215 192_1 91 8 51 28 ACtaatgggaggatTT 4256 193_1 95 14 67 24 TAgttcagagaataAG 4429 194_1 86 5 47 16 TAacatatagttcAGA 4436 195_1 87 4 81 20 ATAacatatagttcAG 4437 196_1 101 6 67 20 CAtaacatatagttCA 4438 197_1 91 6 60 13 TCataacatatagtTC 4439 198_1 61 3 31 10 TAGCtcctaacaatCA 4507 199_1 79 12 49 11 CTCCaatctttgtaTA 4602 200_1 74 2 58 13 TCTCcaatctttgtAT 4603 201_1 53 3 33 10 TCtatttcagccaaTC 4708 202_1 25 4 30 9 CGGaagtcagagtGAA 4782 203_1 32 5 21 7 TTAAgcatgaggaaTA 4798 204_1 34 10 26 11 TGAttgagcacctCTT 4831 205_1 81 12 62 12 GACtaattatttcgTT 4857 206_1 57 7 37 7 TGActaattatttCGT 4858 207_1 26 5 21 6 GTGactaattattTCG 4859 208_1 48 3 33 13 CTGCttgaaatgtgAC 4870 209_1 32 1 34 13 CCtgcttgaaatgTGA 4871 210_1 60 5 50 19 ATcctgcttgaaATGT 4873 211_1 111 8 110 26 ATTataaatctatTCT 5027 212_1 107 1 67 12 GCtaaatactttcATC 5151 213_1 26 3 19 6 CAttgtaacataCCTA 5251 214_1 33 2 20 4 GCattgtaacatacCT 5252 215_1 89 8 53 16 TAatattgcaccaaAT 5295 216_1 25 2 29 9 GAtaatattgcacCAA 5297 217_1 27 1 27 6 AGataatattgcacCA 5298 218_1 79 6 45 11 GCcaagaagataATAT 5305 219_1 159 16 68 14 CACAgccacataaaCT 5406 220_1 90 2 72 12 TTgtaattgtggaaAC 5463 221_1 10 2 11 5 TGacttgtaattgTGG 5467 222_1 82 1 67 18 TCtaactgaaatagTC 5503 223_1 30 1 32 9 GTGgttctaactgaAA 5508 224_1 53 7 53 15 CAatatgggacttgGT 5522 225_1 44 1 33 10 ATGacaatatgggaCT 5526 226_1 49 1 41 14 TATGacaatatgggAC 5527 227_1 77 1 54 15 ATATgacaatatggGA 5528 228_1 100 3 98 29 CTtcacttaataaTTA 5552 229_1 90 12 80 19 CTGCttcacttaatAA 5555 230_1 91 0 79 23 AAgactgcttcacTTA 5559 231_1 49 8 77 34 GAATgccctaattaTG 5589 232_1 17 7 88 33 TGGaatgccctaatTA 5591 233_1 40 5 35 10 GCAaatgccagtagGT 5642 234_1 81 6 72 25 CTAatggaaggattTG 5673 235_1 97 17 87 25 AAtatagaacctaaTG 5683 236_1 98 4 83 21 GAAagaatagaatGTT 5769 237_1 93 2 102 26 ATGggtaatagattAT 5893 238_1 110 24 44 14 GAaagagcacagggTG 6103 239_1 66 5 36 10 CTACatagagggaaTG 6202 240_1 70 4 34 8 GCttcctacataGAGG 6207 241_1 64 NA 33 6 TGCTtcctacatagAG 6208 242_1 30 NA 19 7 TGggcttgaaataTGT 6417 243_1 88 6 69 15 CATtatatttaagaAC 6457 244_1 8 2 5 2 TCggttatgttaTCAT 6470 245_1 18 9 12 4 CActttatctggTCGG 6482 246_1 37 2 19 5 AAAttggcacagcGTT 6505 247_1 46 12 29 8 ACCGtgacagtaaATG 6577 248_1 31 2 25 2 TGggaaccgtgacagTA 6581 249_1 17 2 23 9 CCacatataggtcCTT 6597 250_1 15 6 23 7 CAtattgctaccaTAC 6617 251_1 4 2 9 2 TCAtattgctaccATA 6618 252_1 65 12 85 14 CAATtgtcatatTGCT 6624 253_1 20 2 51 7 CATtcaattgtcataTTG 6626 254_1 48 8 91 41 TTTCtactgggaaTTTG 6644 255_1 11 5 23 8 CAAttagtgcagcCAG 6672 256_1 43 7 62 13 GAATaatgttcttaTCC 6704 257_1 28 2 36 19 CACAaattgaataatgtTCT 6709 258_1 64 4 78 22 CATGcacaaattgaaTAAT 6714 259_1 53 8 104 73 ATCctgcaatttcaCAT 6832 260_1 54 5 59 14 CCaccatagctgatCA 6868 261_1 42 8 52 22 ACcaccatagctgaTCA 6868 262_1 68 5 118 66 CAccaccatagctgaTC 6869 263_1 40 2 73 20 TAgtcggcaccaccAT 6877 264_1 64 6 72 35 CttgtagtcggcaccAC 6880 265_1 56 4 82 35 CttgtagtcggcacCA 6881 266_1 41 5 46 21 CGcttgtagtcggcAC 6883 267_1 51 4 33 14 TCAataaagatcagGC 6942 268_1 61 2 49 10 TGgacttacaagaaTG 6986 269_1 45 7 40 9 ATGgacttacaagaAT 6987 270_1 51 12 36 12 GCTCaagaaattggAT 7073 271_1 17 0 14 5 TACTgtagaacatgGC 7133 272_1 15 3 11 3 GCAAttcatttgaTCT 7239 273_1 64 11 ND ND TGaagggaggagggacAC 7259 274_1 52 6 50 28 AGtggtgaagggaggAG 7265 275_1 79 7 ND ND TAgtggtgaagggaggAG 7265 276_1 81 6 ND ND AtagtggtgaagggaggAG 7265 277_1 70 9 ND ND TAgtggtgaagggagGA 7266 278_1 84 9 ND ND ATagtggtgaagggagGA 7266 279_1 40 6 64 53 TAGtggtgaagggaGG 7267 280_1 42 10 ND ND ATAgtggtgaagggaGG 7267 281_1 63 7 ND ND GAtagtggtgaagggaGG 7267 282_1 27 7 38 11 ATAGtggtgaagggAG 7268 283_1 60 22 ND ND GAtagtggtgaaggGAG 7268 284_1 23 3 97 54 GAgatagtggtgAAGG 7271 285_1 51 6 72 19 CATGggagatagtgGT 7276 286_1 7 1 21 9 ACAAataatggttaCTCT 7302 287_1 66 8 48 20 ACACacaaataatgGTTA 7306 288_1 67 6 58 20 GAGggacacacaaaTAAT 7311 289_1 46 2 50 21 ATATagagaggcTCAA 7390 290_1 22 6 ND ND TTgatatagagaGGCT 7393 291_1 11 2 17 3 GCATttgatatagAGA 7397 292_1 70 18 44 8 TTtgcatttgataTAG 7400 293_1 30 1 30 9 CTGgaagaataggtTC 7512 294_1 53 5 42 10 ACTGgaagaataggTT 7513 295_1 56 2 41 15 TACTggaagaatagGT 7514 296_1 80 8 53 13 TGGCttatcctgtaCT 7526 297_1 73 6 52 14 ATggcttatcctGTAC 7527 298_1 75 7 89 25 TATGgcttatcctgTA 7528 299_1 52 5 50 11 GTAtggcttatccTGT 7529 300_1 27 3 31 6 ATgaatatatgccCAGT 7547 301_1 41 8 33 9 GAtgaatatatgCCCA 7549 302_1 8 2 ND ND CAAgatgaatataTGCC 7551 303_1 32 5 37 14 GACAacatcagtaTAGA 7572 304_1 28 5 30 23 CAAGacaacatcAGTA 7576 305_1 47 5 41 9 CACtcctagttccTTT 7601 306_1 39 6 33 7 AACactcctagttCCT 7603 307_1 68 3 42 14 TAacactcctagtTCC 7604 308_1 115 5 69 22 CTaacactcctagtTC 7605 309_1 97 16 57 14 TGataacataactgTG 7637 310_1 36 1 23 10 CTgataacataaCTGT 7638 311_1 38 5 24 5 TTTGaactcaagtgAC 7654 312_1 42 3 39 5 TCCTttacttagcTAG 7684 313_1 15 2 14 3 GAgtttggattagCTG 7764 314_1 49 28 ND ND TGggatatgacagGGA 7838 315_1 34 6 ND ND TGTGggatatgacaGG 7840 316_1 47 3 37 8 ATATggaagggataTC 7875 317_1 11 3 ND ND ACAggatatggaaGGG 7880 318_1 48 4 ND ND ATTTcaacaggatATGG 7885 319_1 18 2 16 4 GAgtaatttcaacAGG 7891 320_1 74 6 44 5 AGGGagtaatttcAACA 7893 321_1 38 5 56 28 ATTAgggagtaatTTCA 7896 322_1 66 9 32 11 CTtactattaggGAGT 7903 323_1 13 1 15 5 CAgcttactattaGGG 7906 324_1 26 4 20 9 TCAgcttactattAGG 7907 325_1 43 4 17 2 ATTtcagcttactaTTAG 7908 326_1 54 5 57 16 TTcagcttactaTTAG 7908 327_1 28 3 8 2 CAGAtttcagcttaCT 7913 328_1 43 4 37 16 GACtacaactagagGG 7930 329_1 45 12 36 10 AGACtacaactagaGG 7931 330_1 99 8 94 32 AAgactacaactagAG 7932 331_1 59 4 52 19 ATGAtttaattctagtCAAA 7982 332_1 100 2 84 23 TTTaattctagtcAAA 7982 333_1 91 9 60 19 GATTtaattctaGTCA 7984 771_1 74 6 50 5 TGAtttaattctaGTCA 7984 334_1 73 5 54 12 ATGAtttaattctagTCA 7984 335_1 15 1 26 3 GATGatttaattctagtCA 7984 336_1 71 22 49 16 GAtttaattctaGTCA 7984 337_1 43 5 30 11 GATGatttaattctaGTC 7985 338_1 98 5 90 27 TGatttaattctagTC 7985 339_1 87 21 86 2 GAGAtgatttaatTCTA 7988 340_1 92 5 85 27 GAGatgatttaatTCT 7989 341_1 7 1 7 1 CAGAttgatggtagTT 8030 342_1 7 2 24 11 CTcagattgatgGTAG 8032 343_1 3 1 14 9 GTTagccctcagaTTG 8039 344_1 14 5 20 7 TGtattgttagcCCTC 8045 345_1 10 2 11 5 ACttgtattgttAGCC 8048 346_1 52 4 52 17 AGCcagtatcagggAC 8191 347_1 33 3 18 8 TTgacaatagtgGCAT 8213 348_1 7 2 13 5 ACAagtggtatctTCT 8228 349_1 63 8 44 15 AATCtactttacaaGT 8238 350_1 36 2 ND ND CAcagtagatgcctGATA 8351 351_1 24 2 30 9 GAacacagtagatGCC 8356 352_1 23 4 103 14 CTTGgaacacagtagAT 8359 353_1 20 2 45 2 ATAtcttggaacaCAG 8364 354_1 25 3 24 6 TCTttaatatcttgGAAC 8368 355_1 39 2 41 10 TGatttctttaatatCTTG 8372 356_1 54 5 88 43 TGatgatttctttaaTATC 8375 357_1 31 4 45 27 AGGctaagtcatgaTG 8389 358_1 18 3 43 20 TTGAtgaggctaagTC 8395 359_1 6 2 11 2 CCAggattatactaT 8439 360_1 43 5 40 14 GCcaggattataCTCT 8440 361_1 56 8 73 13 CTGccaggattataCT 8442 362_1 23 1 33 7 CAGAaacttatactttaTG 8473 363_1 49 8 45 14 AAGCagaaacttaTACT 8478 364_1 39 6 37 4 GAAgcagaaacttaTACT 8478 365_1 26 4 45 13 TGGaagcagaaacttataCT 8478 366_1 21 4 44 5 TGGaagcagaaacttaTAC 8479 367_1 97 4 70 22 AAgcagaaacttaTAC 8479 368_1 34 3 32 11 TGGaagcagaaactTATA 8480 369_1 71 7 46 19 AAGGgatattatggAG 8587 370_1 51 9 79 38 TGccggaagatttcCT 8641 371_1 45 6 52 25 ATGGattgggagtaGA 8772 372_1 27 7 30 8 AGatggattgggagTA 8774 373_1 13 3 28 6 AAGatggattgggaGT 8775 374_1 42 10 44 11 ACaagatggattGGGA 8777 374_2 41 3 45 14 ACaagatggattggGA 8777 375_1 83 9 88 32 AGAaggttcagaCTTT 8835 376_1 40 5 33 3 GCAgaaggttcagaCT 8837 376_2 28 5 20 4 GCagaaggttcagACT 8837 377_1 70 2 43 8 TGCAgaaggttcagAC 8838 378_1 23 3 55 17 AGtgcagaaggttCAG 8840 378_2 51 6 41 8 AGTGcagaaggttcAG 8840 379_1 34 6 35 7 AAGTgcagaaggttCA 8841 380_1 44 11 24 6 TAagtgcagaagGTTC 8842 381_1 37 5 45 9 TCtaagtgcagaAGGT 8844 382_1 75 5 147 26 CTCaggagttctactTC 8948 383_1 90 10 141 55 CTCaggagttctaCTT 8949 384_1 73 8 234 116 AtggaggtgactcaggAG 8957 385_1 33 4 42 7 ATggaggtgactcagGA 8958 386_1 24 3 29 14 ATggaggtgactcAGG 8959 387_1 37 2 65 15 TAtggaggtgactcAGG 8959 388_1 50 10 81 19 ATatggaggtgactcaGG 8959 389_1 42 5 61 10 TATGgaggtgactcAG 8960 390_1 36 2 76 50 ATatggaggtgacTCAG 8960 391_1 52 6 64 6 CAtatggaggtgactcAG 8960 392_1 63 5 57 6 ATAtggaggtgacTCA 8961 393_1 53 7 64 12 CAtatggaggtgacTCA 8961 394_1 51 5 56 24 CAtatggaggtgACTC 8962 395_1 23 3 41 34 GCatatggaggtgacTC 8962 396_1 34 3 54 10 TGcatatggaggtgacTC 8962 397_1 54 5 71 24 TtgcatatggaggtgacTC 8962 398_1 61 11 59 13 TttgcatatggaggtgacTC 8962 399_1 25 2 30 6 GCatatggaggtgaCT 8963 400_1 34 4 25 9 TGcatatggaggtgaCT 8963 401_1 25 4 31 20 TTGcatatggaggtgaCT 8963 402_1 51 6 37 11 TttgcatatggaggtgaCT 8963 403_1 26 1 33 5 TGCatatggaggtgAC 8964 404_1 25 2 69 19 TTGcatatggaggtGAC 8964 405_1 26 4 24 4 TTTGcatatggaggtgAC 8964 406_1 19 3 20 7 TTTGcatatggaggtGA 8965 407_1 16 5 46 16 TTtgcatatggaGGTG 8966 408_1 9 2 9 6 AAgtgaagttcaaCAGC 8997 409_1 26 8 109 52 TGggaagtgaagTTCA 9002 410_1 31 5 24 5 ATgggaagtgaagTTC 9003 411_1 49 9 19 10 GATGggaagtgaaGTT 9004 412_1 28 10 17 9 CTGtgatgggaagtGAA 9007 413_1 54 4 34 8 ATTgagtgaatccAAA 9119 414_1 11 1 14 2 AAttgagtgaatCCAA 9120 415_1 58 6 14 2 GATAattgagtgaaTCC 9122 416_1 5 1 16 3 GTGataattgagtGAA 9125 417_1 73 5 61 14 AAGaaaggtgcaaTAA 9155 418_1 86 6 64 13 CAagaaaggtgcAATA 9156 419_1 75 19 64 14 ACAAgaaaggtgcaAT 9157 420_1 75 8 50 13 ATttaaactcacaaAC 9171 421_1 21 8 23 6 CTgttaggttcaGCGA 9235 422_1 54 10 30 5 TCTGaatgaacatTTCG 9260 423_1 11 4 15 5 CTcattgaaggtTCTG 9281 424_1 87 3 52 8 CTAatctcattgaaGG 9286 425_1 95 1 85 13 CCtaatctcattgaAG 9287 426_1 31 7 22 7 ACTttgatctttcAGC 9305 427_1 64 7 49 16 ACtatgcaacacttTG 9315 428_1 18 6 21 3 CAAatagctttatCGG 9335 429_1 19 6 17 4 CCaaatagctttATCG 9336 430_1 35 4 27 8 TCCAaatagctttaTC 9337 431_1 75 8 43 7 GATCcaaatagcttTA 9339 432_1 67 11 32 8 ATgatccaaataGCTT 9341 433_1 53 5 43 6 TATGatccaaatagCT 9342 434_1 97 9 66 29 TAAAcagggctggGAAT 9408 435_1 58 12 44 17 ACttaaacagggCTGG 9412 436_1 58 10 30 12 ACacttaaacagGGCT 9414 437_1 87 38 41 3 GAACacttaaacAGGG 9416 438_1 70 4 59 33 AGAGaacacttaaACAG 9418 439_1 83 17 28 9 CTACagagaacaCTTA 9423 440_1 49 12 27 4 ATGctacagagaaCACT 9425 441_1 53 10 24 13 ATAAatgctacagagAACA 9427 442_1 23 6 20 10 AGataaatgctacaGAGA 9430 443_1 48 6 27 7 TAGAgataaatgcTACA 9434 444_1 51 3 32 8 TAGAtagagataaatGCT 9437 445_1 38 5 ND ND CAATatactagataGAGA 9445 446_1 52 3 31 1 TACAcaatatactagATAG 9448 447_1 65 6 48 11 CTAcacaatatacTAG 9452 448_1 67 9 29 2 GCTAcacaatatACTA 9453 449_1 103 17 65 15 ATATgctacacaatATAC 9455 450_1 71 13 129 22 TGATatgctacaCAAT 9459 451_1 19 4 9 1 ATGAtatgatatgCTAC 9464 452_1 75 10 45 21 GAGGagagagacaaTAAA 9495 453_1 68 6 43 10 CTAggaggagagagACA 9500 454_1 72 7 79 25 TATTctaggaggagAGA 9504 455_1 31 3 29 9 TTATattctaggagGAG 9507 456_1 38 5 62 17 GTTtatattctaGGAG 9510 457_1 15 6 15 8 TGgagtttatattcTAGG 9512 458_1 34 3 21 3 CGtaccaccactcTGC 9590 459_1 41 5 55 22 TGAGgaaatcattcATTC 9641 460_1 81 8 47 22 TTTGaggaaatcatTCAT 9643 461_1 76 8 39 5 AGGCtaatcctattTG 9657 462_1 93 12 216 12 TTTAggctaatcCTAT 9660 463_1 15 6 30 9 TGCtccagtgtaccCT 9755 464_1 27 3 25 6 TAgtagtactcgATAG 9813 465_1 9 2 7 3 CTAattgtagtagtaCTC 9818 466_1 52 3 32 6 TGctaattgtagTAGT 9822 467_1 68 11 36 16 AGTGctaattgtagTA 9824 468_1 35 6 32 3 GCAAgtgctaattgTA 9827 469_1 91 9 ND ND GAGGaaatgaactaattTA 9881 470_1 92 5 ND ND CAGGaggaaatgaacTA 9886 471_1 67 5 42 6 CCctagagtcattTCC 9902 472_1 35 5 20 8 ATCttacatgatgaAGC 9925 473_1 13 1 20 5 GACacactcagatttcAG 9967 474_1 24 4 20 2 AGacacactcagatttcAG 9967 475_1 25 4 24 7 AAGacacactcagatttcAG 9967 476_1 26 6 19 4 AGacacactcagattTCA 9968 477_1 28 4 32 13 AAGacacactcagattTCA 9968 478_1 31 8 37 6 AAagacacactcagatTTCA 9968 479_1 63 7 51 26 GAAagacacactcagatTTC 9969 480_1 37 10 ND ND AAGAcacactcagatTTC 9969 481_1 41 4 ND ND AAAGacacactcagaTTTC 9969 482_1 19 5 48 14 TGAAagacacactcagatTT 9970 483_1 60 8 68 10 TGaaagacacactcaGATT 9971 484_1 42 8 63 22 TGAaagacacactcaGAT 9972 485_1 48 9 41 20 ATTGaaagacacacTCA 9975 486_1 27 6 27 12 TCattgaaagacaCACT 9977 487_1 88 13 121 33 TTCcatcattgaAAGA 9983 488_1 80 12 ND ND ATAAtaccacttaTCAT 10010 489_1 13 4 27 15 TTacttaatttcttTGGA 10055 490_1 32 5 60 24 TTAgaactagctttaTCA 10101 491_1 58 10 55 17 GAGgtacaaatatAGG 10171 492_1 4 1 12 3 CTTatgatacaacTTA 10384 493_1 37 6 35 5 TCttatgatacaaCTT 10385 494_1 30 0 27 6 TTCttatgatacaaCT 10386 495_1 27 8 18 3 CAgtttcttatgaTAC 10390 496_1 25 10 25 6 GCAgtttcttatgaTA 10391 497_1 77 6 72 29 TACAaatgtctattagGTT 10457 498_1 66 5 69 17 TGTAcaaatgtctatTAG 10460 499_1 27 10 20 4 AGCatcacaattagTA 10535 500_1 31 10 25 5 CTAatgatagtgaaGC 10548 501_1 21 7 30 8 AGCtaatgatagtgAA 10550 502_1 35 5 39 8 ATGCcttgacatatTA 10565 503_1 64 11 79 26 CTCAagattattgACAC 10623 504_2 25 4 83 32 ACctcaagattaTTGA 10626 504_1 94 7 22 6 ACCtcaagattaTTGA 10626 505_1 31 6 34 10 AACCtcaagattatTG 10627 506_1 55 6 62 17 CACAaacctcaagattaTT 10628 507_1 66 12 40 4 GTActtaattagACCT 10667 508_1 78 5 80 10 AGTActtaattagACC 10668 509_1 36 5 42 15 GTATgaggtggtaaAC 10688 510_1 40 4 48 22 AGgaaacagcagaAGTG 10723 511_1 27 7 13 6 GCacaacccagaggAA 10735 512_1 54 5 ND ND CAAgcacaacccagAG 10738 513_1 35 7 ND ND TTCaagcacaaccCAG 10740 514_1 49 6 52 15 AAttcaagcacaACCC 10742 515_1 72 4 106 49 TAATaattcaagcacaaCC 10743 516_1 43 4 57 21 ACTAataattcaaGCAC 10747 517_1 37 3 60 12 ATAAtactaataattcAAGC 10749 518_1 9 3 6 1 TAgatttgtgagGTAA 11055 519_1 59 10 31 5 AGCCttaattctccAT 11091 520_1 41 4 34 9 AATGatctagagcCTTA 11100 521_1 34 6 34 7 CTAatgatctagaGCC 11103 522_1 52 6 52 17 ACTaatgatctaGAGC 11104 523_1 60 4 54 10 CATtaacatgttctTATT 11165 524_1 57 4 55 8 ACAAgtacattaacatGTTC 11170 525_1 53 6 44 5 TTACaagtacattaaCATG 11173 526_1 54 11 49 17 GCTTtattcatgtTTAT 11195 527_1 34 7 17 5 GCTttattcatgttTA 11196 528_1 11 2 21 4 AGAgctttattcatgtTT 11197 529_1 22 4 33 7 ATAAgagctttattCATG 11200 530_1 30 5 32 15 CATAagagctttaTTCA 11202 531_1 77 8 24 4 AGCAtaagagctTTAT 11205 532_1 8 3 15 6 TAGattgtttagtGCA 11228 533_1 4 2 10 2 GTagattgtttaGTGC 11229 534_1 41 6 33 11 GACAattctagtaGATT 11238 535_1 50 1 37 7 CTGacaattctaGTAG 11241 536_1 49 7 36 6 GCTGacaattctagTA 11242 537_1 59 2 42 11 AGgattaagatacgTA 11262 538_1 28 11 28 4 CAggattaagataCGT 11263 539_1 96 5 20 6 TCAggattaagataCG 11264 540_1 70 11 59 11 TTcaggattaagATAC 11265 541_1 53 5 28 4 AGGAagaaagtttgATTC 11308 542_1 92 13 59 12 TCAAggaagaaagtTTGA 11311 543_1 44 3 67 7 CTCAaggaagaaagTTTG 11312 544_1 43 4 32 4 TGCtcaaggaagaAAGT 11315 545_1 41 7 44 20 AATTatgctcaaggaAGA 11319 546_1 11 4 26 8 TAGGataccacattatGA 11389 547_1 25 4 26 12 CAtaatttattccattcCTC 11449 548_1 64 6 ND ND TGCAtaatttattcCAT 11454 549_1 48 17 49 7 ACTGcataatttatTCC 11456 550_1 91 10 92 15 CTAAactgcataattTATT 11458 551_1 85 8 38 9 ATaactaaactgCATA 11465 552_1 86 4 ND ND TTAttaataactaaaCTGC 11468 553_1 91 13 92 21 TAGTacattattaataaCT 11475 554_1 50 4 37 7 CATAactaaggacgTT 11493 555_1 41 5 30 7 TCataactaaggaCGT 11494 556_1 80 7 55 13 CGTCataactaaggAC 11496 557_1 86 3 59 11 TCgtcataactaagGA 11497 558_1 51 9 33 12 ATcgtcataactAAGG 11498 559_1 91 6 65 26 GTtagtatcttacATT 11525 560_1 30 3 41 8 CTCtattgttagtATC 11532 561_1 59 8 18 6 AGTatagagttacTGT 11567 562_1 65 11 41 11 TTCCtggtgatactri 11644 563_1 57 13 45 13 GTTCctggtgatacTT 11645 564_1 57 15 30 7 TGttcctggtgataCT 11646 565_1 17 4 35 4 ATaaacatgaatctCTCC 11801 566_1 16 3 30 4 CTTtataaacatgaaTCTC 11804 567_1 60 5 45 11 CTGtctttataaaCATG 11810 568_1 20 2 19 5 TTgttataaatctgTCTT 11820 569_1 68 9 44 4 TTAaatttattcttgGATA 11849 570_1 76 8 48 12 CTtaaatttattctTGGA 11851 571_1 62 5 66 5 CTTCttaaatttattctTG 11853 572_1 28 4 44 10 TATGtttctcagtAAAG 11877 573_1 29 6 36 11 GAAttatctttaaACCA 11947 574_1 74 6 34 7 CCCttaaatttctaCA 11980 575_1 37 8 30 9 ACACtgctcttgtaCC 11995 576_1 45 14 27 6 TGAcaacactgctCTT 12000 577_1 2 1 12 5 TACAtttattgggcTC 12081 578_1 65 14 39 9 GTacatttattgGGCT 12082 579_1 34 4 53 12 TTGgtacatttatTGG 12085 580_1 41 7 35 6 CATGttggtacattTAT 12088 581_1 11 4 12 5 AATCatgttggtacAT 12092 582_1 96 16 48 9 AAatcatgttggtaCA 12093 583_1 71 15 42 13 GACaagtttggattAA 12132 584_1 46 34 39 6 AAtgttcagatgCCTC 12197 585_1 37 26 28 12 GCttaatgttcagaTG 12201 586_1 75 8 43 12 CGTAcatagcttgaTG 12267 587_1 41 10 28 5 GTGaggaattaggaTA 12753 588_1 41 5 27 9 GTAacaatatggttTG 12780 589_1 67 10 37 7 GAaatattgtagaCTA 13151 590_1 97 10 80 12 TTGaaatattgtagAC 13153 591_1 64 10 47 9 AAgtctagtaatTTGC 13217 592_1 84 7 60 9 GCTCagtagattatAA 13259 593_1 42 8 32 9 CATacactgttgcTAA 13296 594_1 101 6 79 17 ATGgtctcaaatcATT 13314 595_1 53 14 46 7 CAATggtctcaaatCA 13316 596_1 47 6 36 6 TTCCtattgattgaCT 13568 597_1 97 12 41 6 TTTCtgttcacaacAC 13600 598_1 85 1 49 11 AGgaacccactaaTCT 13702 599_1 56 3 34 7 TAAatggcaggaacCC 13710 600_1 15 4 24 8 GTAAatggcaggaaCC 13711 601_1 40 6 26 8 TTgtaaatggcagGAA 13713 602_1 59 12 26 6 TTatgagttaggCATG 13835 603_1 62 2 42 10 CCAggtgaaactttAA 13935 604_1 77 9 55 18 CCCttagtcagctCCT 13997 605_1 82 13 42 11 ACccttagtcagCTCC 13998 606_1 74 1 39 10 CAcccttagtcagCTC 13999 607_1 76 9 30 8 TCTcttactaggcTCC 14091 608_1 82 5 50 13 CCtatctgtcatcATG 14178 609_1 82 1 48 12 TCCtatctgtcatcAT 14179 610_1 41 6 50 13 GAGaagtgtgagaaGC 14808 611_1 70 5 84 19 CATCcttgaagtttAG 14908 612_1 64 14 61 16 TAAtaagatggctCCC 15046 613_1 85 2 51 14 CAAggcataataagAT 15053 614_1 47 1 35 10 CCaaggcataatAAGA 15054 615_1 74 8 53 11 TGatccaattctcaCC 15151 616_1 63 4 41 11 ATGatccaattctCAC 15152 617_1 46 7 42 9 CGCttcatcttcacCC 15260 618_1 104 4 15 4 TAtgacactgcaTCTT 15317 619_1 8 3 8 5 GTAtgacactgcaTCT 15318 620_1 21 3 27 10 TGtatgacactgCATC 15319 621_1 37 7 38 11 TTCTcttctgtaagTC 15363 622_1 49 7 36 11 TTctacagaggaACTA 15467 623_1 47 1 32 10 ACTacagttctacAGA 15474 624_1 78 8 69 6 TTCCcacaggtaaaTG 15561 625_1 70 7 ND ND ATTAtttgaatatactCATT 15594 626_1 73 7 49 25 TGGGaggaaattatTTG 15606 627_1 80 5 64 11 TGACtcatcttaaaTG 15621 628_1 71 6 66 19 CTGactcatcttaaAT 15622 629_1 31 6 41 6 TTTactctgactcATC 15628 630_1 88 2 68 18 TATtggaggaattaTT 15642 631_1 53 2 27 6 GTAttggaggaattAT 15643 632_1 23 3 39 7 TGgtatacttctctaagTAT 15655 633_1 42 9 33 3 GATCtcttggtataCT 15666 634_1 38 1 30 16 CAgacaactctataCC 15689 635_1 10 2 19 3 AACAtcagacaacTCTA 15693 636_1 13 1 11 3 TAACatcagacaacTC 15695 637_1 14 2 27 2 TTTAacatcagacaACTC 15695 638_1 101 14 81 16 ATttaacatcagacAA 15698 639_1 14 1 17 1 CCtatttaacatcAGAC 15700 640_1 65 2 ND ND TCCctatttaacaTCA 15703 641_1 41 6 42 12 TCAAcgactattgGAAT 15737 642_1 37 2 29 5 CTTAtattctggcTAT 15850 643_1 31 7 35 4 ATCCttatattctgGC 15853 644_1 13 3 8 1 GAtccttatattCTGG 15854 645_1 25 5 20 4 TGAtccttatattCTG 15855 646_1 33 6 54 10 ATTGaaacttgaTCCT 15864 647_1 43 3 27 6 ACtgtcattgaaACTT 15870 648_1 54 7 32 12 TCTtactgtcattgAA 15874 649_1 12 1 25 2 AGgatcttactgtCATT 15877 650_1 13 4 11 3 GCAaatcaactccATC 15896 651_1 10 5 16 3 GTGcaaatcaactCCA 15898 652_1 7 0 36 18 CAATtatttctttgTGC 15910 653_1 21 3 31 7 TGGcaacaattattTCTT 15915 654_1 75 9 73 24 GCTggcaacaatTATT 15919 655_1 21 6 39 6 ATCCatttctactgCC 15973 656_1 25 3 38 8 TAATatctattgataCTA 15988 657_1 14 2 11 5 TCaatagtgtagggCA 16093 658_1 11 4 10 3 TTCaatagtgtaggGC 16094 659_1 18 1 32 12 AGGTtaattaattcaATAG 16102 660_1 33 7 25 10 CATttgtaatccCTAG 16163 660_2 64 14 31 8 CATttgtaatcccTAG 16163 661_1 48 6 34 6 ACAtttgtaatccCTA 16164 662_2 29 6 23 5 AAcatttgtaatCCCT 16165 662_1 30 6 18 6 AACatttgtaatCCCT 16165 663_1 49 1 26 6 TAaatttcaagttCTG 16184 664_1 17 3 30 10 GTTtaaatttcaagTTCT 16185 665_1 22 7 40 9 CCAAgtttaaatttCAAG 16189 666_1 89 11 ND ND ACCCaagtttaaaTTTC 16192 667_1 60 16 87 8 CAtacagtgacccaagTTT 16199 668_1 65 9 50 12 ACatcccatacagTGA 16208 669_1 83 8 103 4 AGcacagctctaCATC 16219 670_1 80 9 150 36 ATAtagcacagcTCTA 16223 671_1 57 14 ND ND TCCatatagcacagCT 16226 672_1 53 10 106 8 ATTtccatatagCACA 16229 673_1 78 3 96 14 TTTAtttccatatAGCA 16231 674_1 77 9 31 7 TTTatttccatatAGC 16232 675_1 32 6 ND ND AAGGagaggagatTATG 16409 676_1 32 5 24 6 AGTtcttgtgttagCT 16456 677_1 19 4 17 4 GAgttcttgtgttaGC 16457 678_1 14 3 25 3 ATTaattatccatCCAC 16590 679_1 11 2 20 6 ATCaattaattatcCATC 16593 680_1 31 5 40 11 AGAatcaattaattaTCC 16596 681_1 8 3 30 10 TGagataccgtgcaTG 16656 682_1 11 3 ND ND AAtgagataccgTGCA 16658 683_1 15 3 33 10 CTGtggttaggctaAT 16834 684_1 45 7 38 7 Aagagtaagggtctgtggri 16842 685_1 24 5 ND ND GATGggttaagagTAA 16854 686_1 11 2 ND ND AGCagatgggttaaGA 16858 687_1 ND ND 51 7 TGtaaacatttgTAGC 16886 688_1 83 1 54 11 CCTgcttataaatgTA 16898 689_1 103 4 73 14 TGCCctgcttataaAT 16901 690_1 104 2 64 22 TCttcttagttcaaTA 16935 691_1 ND ND 60 9 TGgtttctaactACAT 16980 692_1 ND ND 94 22 AGtttggtttctaaCTA 16983 693_1 8 2 17 5 GAAtgaaacttgcCTG 17047 694_1 98 6 51 9 ATTatccttacatGAT 17173 695_1 48 4 18 4 GTacccaattatcCTT 17180 696_1 94 2 48 9 TGTacccaattatCCT 17181 697_1 31 5 42 13 TTgtacccaattaTCC 17182 698_1 41 4 39 6 TTTgtacccaattaTC 17183 699_1 63 0 28 12 AGCAgcaggttataTT 17197 700_1 99 6 43 12 TGGgaagtggtctGGG 17292 701_1 103 2 28 5 CTGgagagtgataaTA 17322 702_1 52 6 27 9 AATGctggattacgTC 17354 703_1 67 3 37 7 CAatgctggattaCGT 17355 704_1 36 10 80 12 TTgttcagaagtATCC 17625 705_1 19 9 47 9 GAtgatttgcttGGAG 17646 706_1 44 NA 60 9 GAAatcattcacaACC 17860 707_1 46 9 32 9 TTGtaacatctacTAC 17891 708_1 56 0 79 17 CATtaagcagcaagTT 17923 709_1 30 9 46 7 TTActagatgtgagCA 17942 710_1 29 4 36 6 TTtactagatgtgAGC 17943 711_1 41 13 41 6 GACcaagcaccttaCA 17971 712_1 36 19 49 11 AGAccaagcacctTAC 17972 713_1 30 6 34 7 ATgggttaaataAAGG 18052 714_1 70 2 24 8 TCaaccagagtattAA 18067 715_1 11 4 26 8 GTCaaccagagtatTA 18068 716_1 126 56 26 6 ATtgtaaagctgaTAT 18135 717_1 73 1 42 10 CAcataattgtaAAGC 18141 718_1 23 9 55 18 GAggtctgctattTAC 18274 719_1 50 1 42 11 TGtagattcaatgCCT 18404 720_1 79 3 39 10 CCtcattatactaTGA 18456 721_1 27 6 30 8 CCttatgctatgacAC 18509 722_1 26 7 50 13 TCCTtatgctatgaCA 18510 723_1 59 1 48 12 AAGatgtttaagtATA 18598 724_1 54 2 50 13 CTgattattaagATGT 18607 725_1 92 10 84 19 TGgaaaggtatgaaTT 18808 726_1 24 8 61 16 ACttgaatggcttgGA 18880 727_1 8 4 51 14 AACttgaatggctTGG 18881 728_1 35 4 35 10 CAATgtgttactatTT 19004 729_1 36 9 53 11 ACAatgtgttactATT 19005 730_1 70 2 41 11 CATCtgctatataaGA 19063 731_1 38 NA 42 9 CCTAgagcaaatacTT 19223 732_1 102 15 15 4 CAGagttaataatAAG 19327 733_1 37 10 8 5 GTTCaagcacaacgAA 19493 734_1 13 1 38 11 AGggttcaagcacAAC 19496 735_1 49 NA 36 11 TGttggagacactgri 19677 736_1 48 NA 32 10 AAGgaggagttaggAC 19821 737_1 36 NA 64 11 CTATgccatttacgAT 19884 738_1 105 19 66 19 TCaaatgcagaattAG 19913 739_1 44 NA 41 6 AGtgacaatcaaATGC 19921 740_1 107 NA 68 18 AAgtgacaatcaaATG 19922 741_1 102 4 27 6 GTGtaccaagtaacAA 19978 742_1 110 10 30 16 TGGgatgttaaacTGA 20037

Example 2—Testing In Vitro Efficacy in a Dose Response Curve

A selection of oligonucleotides from Table 10 were tested in KARPAS-299 cells using half-log serial dilutions in PBS (50 μM, 15.8 μM, 5.0 μM, 1.58 μM, 0.5 μM, 0.158 μM, 0.05 μM, to 0.0158 μM oligonucleotide) in the in vitro efficacy assay described in Example 1. IC 50 and max inhibition (% residual PD-L1 expression) was assessed for the oligonucleotides.

EC50 calculations were performed in GraphPad Prism6. The IC50 and maximum PD-L1 knock down level is shown in table 11 as % of control (PBS) treated cells.

TABLE 11 Max inhibition as % of saline and EC50 in KARPAS-299 cell line. Max Inhibition (% residual PD-L1 expression; Start on % of saline-treated) EC50 (μM) SEQ ID CMP ID NO Avg SD Avg SD Compound CMP NO: 1   6_1 11 3.3 0.69 0.11 TCGCataagaatgaCT 371   8_1 29 1.7 0.06 0.01 CTGaacacacagtCGC 383   9_1 19 1.7 0.23 0.02 TCTgaacacacagtCG 384  13_1 14 4.7 0.45 0.12 CTtacttagatgcTGC 495  41_1 10 1.8 0.19 0.02 TCAtttagttaccCAA 822  42_1 17 1.3 0.19 0.02 TTcatttagttaCCCA 823  58_1 23 1.5 0.17 0.01 CCagagatatataTGC 909  77_1 24 2.4 0.16 0.02 AGTatcatagttcTCC 1075  92_1 12 2.4 0.25 0.03 AGattaagacagtTGA 1310 111_1 3 2.0 0.27 0.03 TGaattcccatatcCGA 1992 128_1 11 1.8 0.25 0.03 CTcatatcagggCAGT 2063 151_1 16 2.7 0.28 0.05 GTCatggattacaaCT 2324 164_1 19 1.6 0.15 0.01 TCTGtttatgtcacTG 2781 166_1 36 1.7 0.11 0.02 TGgtctgtttatGTCA 2784 169_1 10 1.6 0.22 0.02 TTcagcaaatatTCGT 2995 171_1 12 2.0 0.21 0.02 TCTattgttaggtATC 3053 222_1 1 2.0 0.21 0.02 TGacttgtaattgTGG 5467 233_1 1 4.3 0.89 0.17 TGGaatgccctaatTA 5591 245_1 4 2.0 0.17 0.02 TCggttatgttaTCAT 6470 246_1 7 2.1 0.25 0.03 CActttatctggTCGG 6482 250_1 0 2.5 0.23 0.03 CCacatataggtcCTT 6597 251_1 0 2.8 0.75 0.10 CAtattgctaccaTAC 6617 252_1 3 2.2 0.19 0.02 TCAtattgctaccATA 6618 256_1 5 2.2 0.32 0.03 CAAttagtgcagcCAG 6672 272_1 1 3.2 0.69 0.10 TACTgtagaacatgGC 7133 273_1 3 2.8 0.28 0.04 GCAAttcatttgaTCT 7239 287_1 1 1.4 0.13 0.01 ACAAataatggttaCTCT 7302 292_1 2 2.1 0.21 0.02 GCATttgatatagAGA 7397 303_1 0 1.2 0.21 0.01 CAAgatgaatataTGCC 7551 314_1 3 2.1 0.39 0.04 GAgtttggattagCTG 7764 318_1 3 1.4 0.14 0.01 ACAggatatggaaGGG 7880 320_1 2 2.4 0.22 0.03 GAgtaatttcaacAGG 7891 324_1 0 2.4 0.44 0.05 CAgcttactattaGGG 7906 336_1 0 2.5 0.21 0.03 GATGatttaattctagtCA 7984 342_1 1 2.2 0.12 0.01 CAGAttgatggtagTT 8030 343_1 4 1.8 0.11 0.01 CTcagattgatgGTAG 8032 344_1 0 0.9 0.12 0.01 GTTagccctcagaTTG 8039 345_1 0 2.3 0.36 0.04 TGtattgttagcCCTC 8045 346_1 1 2.1 0.22 0.02 ACttgtattgttAGCC 8048 349_1 4 2.9 0.21 0.03 ACAagtggtatctTCT 8228 359_1 6 2.9 0.39 0.05 TTGAtgaggctaagTC 8395 360_1 0 1.7 0.18 0.02 CCAggattatactaT 8439 374_1 5 1.7 0.33 0.03 AAGatggattgggaGT 8775 408_1 3 1.8 0.21 0.02 TTtgcatatggaGGTG 8966 409_1 0 1.8 0.21 0.02 AAgtgaagttcaaCAGC 8997 415_1 0 1.4 0.23 0.02 AAttgagtgaatCCAA 9120 417_1 7 0.9 0.15 0.01 GTGataattgagtGAA 9125 424_1 6 3.2 0.19 0.03 CTcattgaaggtTCTG 9281 429_1 5 2.5 0.48 0.05 CAAatagctttatCGG 9335 430_1 1 2.7 0.68 0.09 CCaaatagctttATCG 9336 458_1 0 4.1 0.35 0.07 TGgagtttatattcTAGG 9512 464_1 0 4.1 0.56 0.10 TGCtccagtgtaccCT 9755 466_1 1 2.1 0.21 0.02 CTAattgtagtagtaCTC 9818 474_1 0 2.4 0.27 0.03 GACacactcagatttcAG 9967 490_1 0 1.9 0.29 0.03 TTacttaatttcttTGGA 10055 493_1 3 1.8 0.20 0.02 CTTatgatacaacTTA 10384 512_1 0 3.3 0.63 0.10 GCacaacccagaggAA 10735 519_1 5 1.5 0.15 0.01 TAgatttgtgagGTAA 11055 529_1 0 2.7 0.24 0.03 AGAgctttattcatgtTT 11197 533_1 6 1.5 0.14 0.01 TAGattgtttagtGCA 11228 534_1 5 0.9 0.06 0.00 GTagattgtttaGTGC 11229 547_1 1 1.6 0.26 0.02 TAGGataccacattatGA 11389 566_1 0 3.0 0.40 0.06 ATaaacatgaatctCTCC 11801 567_1 2 2.5 0.34 0.04 CTTtataaacatgaaTCTC 11804 578_1 2 1.3 0.09 0.01 TACAtttattgggcTC 12081 582_1 1 1.6 0.20 0.02 AATCatgttggtacAT 12092 601_1 1 2.1 0.47 0.05 GTAAatggcaggaaCC 13711 619_1 4 3.4 0.44 0.08 TAtgacactgcaTCTT 15317 620_1 1 1.2 0.12 0.01 GTAtgacactgcaTCT 15318 636_1 0 1.3 0.19 0.01 AACAtcagacaacTCTA 15693 638_1 0 2.2 0.36 0.04 TAACatcagacaacTC 15695 637_1 0 2.1 0.21 0.02 TTTAacatcagacaACTC 15695 640_1 2 3.3 0.42 0.06 CCtatttaacatcAGAC 15700 645_1 1 2.9 0.34 0.04 GAtccttatattCTGG 15854 650_1 0 2.4 0.24 0.03 AGgatcttactgtCATT 15877 651_1 4 3.4 0.33 0.05 GCAaatcaactccATC 15896 652_1 0 1.3 0.16 0.01 GTGcaaatcaactCCA 15898 653_1 4 2.0 0.09 0.01 CAATtatttctttgTGC 15910 658_1 3 1.6 0.32 0.02 TCaatagtgtagggCA 16093 659_1 5 1.4 0.20 0.01 TTCaatagtgtaggGC 16094 660_1 4 2.1 0.22 0.02 AGGTtaattaattcaATAG 16102 665_1 3 1.8 0.18 0.02 GTTtaaatttcaagTTCT 16185 678_1 3 2.1 0.43 0.04 GAgttcttgtgttaGC 16457 679_1 0 3.5 0.31 0.05 ATTaattatccatCCAC 16590 680_1 4 1.6 0.12 0.01 ATCaattaattatcCATC 16593 682_1 3 2.4 0.27 0.03 TGagataccgtgcaTG 16656 683_1 0 3.2 0.16 0.03 AAtgagataccgTGCA 16658 684_1 2 2.3 0.25 0.03 CTGtggttaggctaAT 16834 687_1 5 1.3 0.13 0.01 AGCagatgggttaaGA 16858 694_1 0 1.7 0.16 0.02 GAAtgaaacttgcCTG 17047 706_1 15 3.6 0.27 0.06 GAtgatttgcttGGAG 17646 716_1 10 2.1 0.15 0.02 GTCaaccagagtatTA 18068 728_1 5 1.2 0.09 0.01 AACttgaatggctTGG 18881 733_1 0 12.7 8.01 3.62 CAGagttaataatAAG 19327 734_1 0 14.6 3.49 2.39 GTTCaagcacaacgAA 19493 735_1 0 2.5 0.30 0.04 AGggttcaagcacAAC 19496

A selection of oligonucleotides from Table 6 were tested in THP-1 cells using 1:3 serial in water from 25 μM to 0.004 μM in the in vitro efficacy assay described in Example 1. IC 50 and max inhibition (Percent residual PD-L1 expression) was assessed for the oligonucleotides.

EC50 calculations were performed in GraphPad Prism6. The IC50 and maximum PD-L1 knock down level is shown in table 12 as % of control (PBS) treated cells.

TABLE 12 Max inhibition as % of saline and EC50 in THP1 cell line. Max Inhibition (% residual PD-L1 expression; Start on % of saline) EC50 (μM) SEQ ID CMP ID NO Avg SD Avg SD Compound CMP NO: 1   6_1 12 11.5 0.73 0.38 TCGCataagaatgaCT 371   8_1 6 5.6 0.11 0.04 CTGaacacacagtCGC 383   9_1 1 14.3 0.36 0.27 TCTgaacacacagtCG 384  13_1 2 12.4 0.49 0.31 CTtacttagatgcTGC 495  41_1 14 14.6 0.38 0.27 TCAtttagttaccCAA 822  42_1 21 10.4 0.22 0.10 TTcatttagttaCCCA 823  58_1 6 19.8 0.97 0.81 CCagagatatataTGC 909  77_1 5 4.8 0.14 0.04 AGTatcatagttcTCC 1075  92_1 0 12.9 0.57 0.39 AGattaagacagtTGA 1310 128_1 15 10.1 0.23 0.13 CTcatatcagggCAGT 2063 151_1 9 14.4 0.18 0.15 GTCatggattacaaCT 2324 164_1 16 22.0 0.57 0.60 TCTGtttatgtcacTG 2781 166_1 13 11.9 0.17 0.11 TGgtctgtttatGTCA 2784 169_1 0 9.3 0.22 0.11 TTcagcaaatatTCGT 2995 171_1 11 12.9 0.28 0.20 TCTattgttaggtATC 3053 222_1 16 19.7 0.68 0.64 TGacttgtaattgTGG 5467 245_1 14 6.1 0.26 0.08 TCggttatgttaTCAT 6470 246_1 28 7.3 0.10 0.20 CActttatctggTCGG 6482 252_1 19 8.0 0.29 0.12 TCAtattgctaccATA 6618 272_1 3 9.7 0.25 0.14 TACTgtagaacatgGC 7133 314_1 13 9.6 0.31 0.15 GAgtttggattagCTG 7764 344_1 11 8.0 0.14 0.06 GTTagccctcagaTTG 8039 349_1 12 12.5 0.18 0.14 ACAagtggtatctTCT 8228 415_1 11 9.6 0.26 0.12 AAttgagtgaatCCAA 9120 493_1 15 16.5 0.48 0.34 CTTatgatacaacTTA 10384 512_1 43 14.1 0.31 0.68 GCacaacccagaggAA 10735 519_1 9 12.2 0.45 0.26 TAgatttgtgagGTAA 11055 533_1 11 13.6 0.29 0.21 TAGattgtttagtGCA 11228 534_1 9 6.5 0.09 0.03 GTagattgtttaGTGC 11229 582_1 0 12.3 0.33 0.23 AATCatgttggtacAT 12092 619_1 8 10.4 0.32 0.18 TAtgacactgcaTCTT 15317 620_1 12 24.6 1.10 1.08 GTAtgacactgcaTCT 15318 638_1 2 5.4 0.00 0.00 TAACatcagacaacTC 15695 645_1 20 29.6 1.10 1.50 GAtccttatattCTGG 15854 651_1 0 11.2 0.14 0.09 GCAaatcaactccATC 15896 658_1 11 13.8 0.48 0.32 TCaatagtgtagggCA 16093 659_1 0 8.2 0.11 0.06 TTCaatagtgtaggGC 16094 733_1 0 69.6 11.03 26.95 CAGagttaataatAAG 19327 734_1 36 16.8 2.84 2.12 GTTCaagcacaacgAA 19493

The results in table 7 and 8 are also shown in FIG. 2 in relation to their position where they target the PD-L1 pre mRNA of SEQ ID NO: 1.

From this it can be seen that almost all of the compounds have EC50 values below 1 μM and a target knock down below 25% of the PD-L1 expression level in the control cells (treated with saline).

Example 3—In Vitro Potency and Efficacy and In Vivo PD-L1 Reduction in Poly(I:C) Induced Mice Using Naked and GalNAc Conjugated PD-L1 Antisense Oligonucleotides

Efficacy and potency testing was performed in an in vitro experiment in in dose-response studies in MCP-11 cells using the oligonucleotides in table 6. The same oligonucleotides as well as GalNAc conjugated versions (Table 8 CMP ID NO 755_2-765_2) were tested in vivo in poly(I:C) induced C57BL/6J female mice for their ability to reduce PD-L1 mRNA and protein expression

In Vitro Assay

MCP-11 cells (originally purchased from ATCC) suspended in DMEM (Sigma cat. no. D0819) supplemented with 10% horse serum, 2 mM L-glutamine, 0.025 mg/ml gentamicin and 1 mM sodium pyruvate were added at a density of 8000 cells/well to the oligonucleotides (10 μl) in 96-well round bottom plates and cultured for 3 days in a final volume of 200 μl/well in a humidified incubator at 37° C. with 5% CO₂. Oligonucleotides were screened in dose-range concentrations (50 μM, 15.8 μM, 5.0 μM, 1.58 μM, 0.5 μM, 0.158 μM, 0.05 μM and 0.0158 μM).

Total mRNA was extracted using the PureLink Pro 96 RNA Purification kit (Ambion), according to the manufacturer's instructions. cDNA was synthesized using M-MLT Reverse Transcriptase, random decamers RETROscript, RNase inhibitor (Ambion) and 100 mM dNTP set (Invitrogen, PCR Grade) according to the manufacturer's instruction. For gene expressions analysis, qPCR was performed using TaqMan Fast Advanced Master Mix (2×) (Ambion) in a duplex set up with TaqMan primer assays for the PD-L1 (Thermo Fisher Scientific; FAM-MGB Mm00452054-m1) and Gusb (Thermo Fisher Scientific; VIC-MGB-PL Mm01197698-m1). The relative PD-L1 mRNA expression level is shown in table 9 as % of residual PD-L1 expression in % of PBS control samples (PBS-treated cells). EC50 calculations were performed in GraphPad Prism6. The EC50 and maximum PD-L1 knockdown level is shown in table 13 as % of control (PBS) cells.

In Vivo Assay

C57BL/6J female mice (20-23 g; 5 mice per group) were injected s.c. with 5 mg/kg unconjugated oligonucleotides to mouse PD-L1 or 2.8 mg/kg GalNAc-conjugated oligonucleotides to mouse PD-L1. Three days later, the mice were injected i.v. with 10 mg/kg poly(I:C) (LWM, Invivogen). The mice were sacrificed 5 h after poly(I:C) injection and liver samples were placed in RNA later (Thermo Fisher Scientific) for RNA extraction or frozen at dry ice for protein extraction.

Total mRNA was extracted from homogenized liver samples using the PureLink Pro 96 RNA Purification kit (Ambion), according to the manufacturer's instructions. cDNA was synthesized using M-MLT Reverse Transcriptase, random decamers RETROscript, RNase inhibitor (Ambion) and 100 mM dNTP set (Invitrogen, PCR Grade) according to the manufacturer's instruction. For gene expressions analysis, qPCR was performed using TaqMan® Fast Advanced Master Mix TaqMan Fast Advanced Master Mix (2×) (Ambion) in a duplex set up with TaqMan primer assays for the PD-L1 mRNA (Thermo Fisher Scientific; FAM-MGB Mm00452054-m1) and TBP (Thermo Fisher Scientific; VIC-MGB-PL Mm00446971_m1). The relative PD-L1 mRNA expression level is shown in table 13 as % of control samples from mice injected with saline and poly(I:C).

Liver homogenates were prepared by homogenizing liver samples in 2 ml per 100 mg tissue T-PER® Tissue Protein Extraction Reagent (Thermo Fisher Scientific) mixed with 1× Halt Protease Inhibitor Cocktail, EDTA-Free (Thermo Fisher Scientific). Protein concentrations in liver homogenates were measured using Coomassie Plus (Bradford) Assay Reagent (Thermo Scientific) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Liver homogenates (40 μg protein) were separated on 4-12% Bis-Tris Plus polyacrylamide gels (Thermo Fisher Scientific) in 1×MOPS running buffer and transferred to nitrocellulose membranes using iBLOT Dry blotting system (Thermo Fisher Scientific) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Each blot was cut in to two parts horizontally at the 64 kDa band. Following blocking in TBS containing 5% skim milk and 0.05% Tween20, the membranes were incubated overnight at 4° C. with rabbit monoclonal anti-vinculin (Abcam cat. no. ab129002) diluted 1:10000 (upper membranes) or goat polyclonal anti-mPD-L1 (R&D Systems cat. no. AF1019) diluted 1:1000 (lower membranes) in TBS containing 5% skim milk and 0.05% Tween20. The membranes were washed in TBS containing 0.05% Tween20 and exposed for 1 h at room temperature to HRP-conjugated swine anti-rabbit IgG (DAKO) diluted 1:3000 (upper membranes) or HRP-conjugated rabbit anti-goat IgG (DAKO) diluted 1:2000 in TBS containing 5% skim milk and 0.05% Tween20. Following washing of the membranes, the reactivity was detected using ECL select (Amersham GE Healthcare). For each group of mice treated with oligonucleotides, the intensity of the PD-L1 bands in relation to vinculin bands were evaluated by comparison with the PD-L1/vinculin band intensities of mice injected with saline and poly(I:C) (control). Results are shown in table 13, and westernblots with pairs of naked and conjugated oligonucleotides are shown in FIG. 9 A-E.

TABLE 13 In vitro and in vivo efficacy of oligonucleotides to mouse PD-L1 Max PD-L1 protein CMP Inhibition EC50 PD-L1 mRNA (relative to ID NO Compound CMP (% of PBS) (μM) (% of control) control) 744_1 AGTttacattttcTGC 9.1 0.56 86 ++ 746_1 CACctttaaaaccCCA 5.0 0.46 181 nd 747_1 TCCtttataatcaCAC 4.4 0.52 104 ++ 748_1 ACGgtattttcacAGG 1.8 0.26 102 +++ 749_1 GACactacaatgaGGA 7.6 1.21 104 nd 750_1 TGGtttttaggacTGT 12.4 0.74 84 nd 751_1 CGAcaaattctatCCT 9.9 0.69 112 nd 752_1 TGAtatacaatgcTAC 10.5 1.11 142 +++ 753_1 TCGttgggtaaatTTA 5.7 0.53 116 +++ 754_1 TGCtttataaatgGTG 5.2 0.35 98 nd 755_2 5′-GN2-C6-caAGTttacattttcTGC nd nd 58 + 757_2 5′-GN2-C6-caCACctttaaaaccCCA nd nd 62 nd 758_2 5′-GN2-C6-caTCCtttataatcaCAC nd nd 53 + 759_2 5′-GN2-C6-caACGgtattttcacAGG nd nd 66 + 760_2 5′-GN2-C6-caGACactacaatgaGGA nd nd 101 nd 761_2 5′-GN2-C6-caTGGtttttaggacTGT nd nd 99 nd 762_2 5′-GN2-C6-caCGAcaaattctatCCT nd nd 84 nd 763_2 5′-GN2-C6-caTGAtatacaatgcTAC nd nd 93 +++ 764_2 5′-GN2-C6-caTCGttgggtaaatTTA nd nd 53 + 765_2 5′-GN2-C6-caTGCtttataaatgGTG nd nd 106 nd +++: similar to PD-L1/vinculin band intensity of control; ++: weaker than PD-L1/vinculin band intensity of control; +: much weaker than PD-L1/vinculin band intensity of control; nd = not determined.

From the data in table 13 it can be seen that GalNAc conjugation of the oligonucleotides clearly improves the in vivo PD-L1 reduction. The reduction of mRNA generally correlates with a reduction in PD-L1 protein. Except for CMP ID NO: 754_1, a low in vitro EC50 value generally reflects a good in vivo PD-L1 mRNA reduction once the oligonucleotide is conjugated to GalNAc.

Example 4—In Vivo PK/PD in Sorted Hepatocytes and Non-Parenchymal Cells from poly(I:C) Induced Mice

The distribution of naked and GalNAc conjugated oligonucleotides as well as PD-L1 mRNA reduction was investigated in hepatocytes and non-parenchymal cells isolated from poly(I:C) induced mice.

C57BL/6J female mice (n=3 per group) were injected s.c. with 5 mg/kg unconjugated oligonucleotide (748_1) or 7 mg/kg GalNAc-conjugated oligonucleotides (759_2) targeting mouse PD-L1 mRNA. Two days later, the mice were injected i.p. with 15 mg/kg poly(I:C) (LWM, Invivogen). The mice were anesthesized 18-20 h after poly(I:C) injection and the liver was perfused at a flow rate of 7 ml per min through the vena cava using Hank's balanced salt solution containing 15 mM Hepes and 0.38 mM EGTA for 5 min followed by collagenase solution (Hank's balanced salt solution containing 0.17 mg/ml Collagenase type 2 (Worthington 4176), 0.03% BSA, 3.2 mM CaCl₂ and 1.6 g/l NaHCO₃) for 12 min. Following perfusion, the liver was removed and the liver capsule was opened, the liver suspension was filtered through 70 μm cell strainer using William E medium and an aliquot of the cell suspension (=mixed liver cells) was removed for later analysis. The rest of the cell suspension was centrifuged for 3 min at 50×g. The supernatant was collected for later purification of non-parenchymal cells. The pellet was resuspended in 25 ml William E medium (Sigma cat. no. W1878 complemented with 1× Pen/Strep, 2 mM L-glutamine and 10% FBS (ATCC #30-2030)), mixed with 25 ml William E medium containing 90% percoll and the hepatocytes were precipitated by centrifugation at 50×g for 10 min. Following 2× washing in William E medium, the precipitated hepatocytes were resuspended in Williams E medium. The supernant containing non-parenchymal cells was centrifuged at 500×g 7 min and the cells were resuspended in 4 ml RPMI medium and centrifugated through two layers of percoll (25% and 50% percoll) at 1800×g for 30 min. Following collection of the non-parenchymal cells between the two percoll layers, the cells were washed and resuspended in RPMI medium.

Total mRNA was extracted from purified hepatocytes, non-parenchymal cells and total liver suspension (non-fractionated liver cells) using the PureLink Pro 96 RNA Purification kit (Ambion), according to the manufacturer's instructions. cDNA was synthesized using M-MLT Reverse Transcriptase, random decamers RETROscript, RNase inhibitor (Ambion) and 100 mM dNTP set (Invitrogen, PCR Grade) according to the manufacturer's instruction. For gene expressions analysis, qPCR was performed using TaqMan Fast Advanced Master Mix (2×) (Ambion) in a duplex set up with TaqMan primer assays for the PD-L1 (Thermo Fisher Scientific; FAM-MGB Mm00452054-m1) and TBP (Thermo Fisher Scientific; VIC-MGB-PL Mm00446971_m1). The relative PD-L1 mRNA expression level is shown in table 10 as % of control samples from mice injected with saline and poly(I:C).

Oligonucleotide content analysis was performed using ELISA employing a biotinylated capture probe with the sequence 5′-TACCGT-s-Bio-3′ and a digoxigenin conjugated detection probe with the sequence 5′-DIG-C12-S1-CCTGTG-3′. The probes consisted of only LNA with a phosphodiester backbone. Liver samples (approximately 50 mg) were homogenized in 1.4 mL MagNa pure lysis buffer (Roche Cat. No 03604721001) in a 2 mL Eppendorf tube containing one 5 mm stainless steel bead. Samples were homogenized on Retsch MM400 homogenizer (Merck Eurolab) until a uniform lysate was obtained. The samples were incubated for 30 min at room temperature. Standards were generated by spiking the unconjugated antisense oligonucleotide compound (CMP ID NO 748_1) in defined concentrations into an untreated liver sample and processing them as the samples. Spike-in concentrations are chosen to match the expected sample oligo content (within ˜10-fold).

The homogenized samples were diluted a minimum of 10 times in 5×SSCT buffer (750 mM NaCl, and 75 mM sodium citrate, containing 0.05% (v/v) Tween-20, pH 7.0) and a dilution series of 6 times 2 fold dilutions using capture-detection solution (35 nM capture probe and 35 nM detection probe in 5×SSCT buffer) were made and incubated for 30 min at room temperature. The samples were transferred to a 96 well streptavidin coated plate (Nunc Cat. No. 436014) with 100 μL in each well. The plates were incubated for 1 hour at room temperature with gentle agitation. Wash three times with 2×SSCT buffer and add 100 μL anti-DIG-AP Fab fragment (Roche Applied Science, Cat. No. 11 093 274 910) diluted 1:4000 in PBST (Phosphate buffered saline, containing 0.05% (v/v) Tween-20, pH 7.2, freshly made) was added to each well and incubated for 1 hour at room temperature under gentle agitation. Wash three times with 2×SSCT buffer and add 100 μL of alkaline phosphatase (AP) substrate solution (Blue Phos Substrate, KPL product code 50-88-00, freshly prepared). The intensity of the color was measured spectrophotometrically at 615 nm after 30 minutes incubation with gentle agitation. Raw data were exported from the readers (Gen5 2.0 software) to excel format and further analyzed in excel. Standard curves were generated using GraphPad Prism 6 software and a logistic 4PL regression model.

TABLE 14 PD-L1 expression and oligo content in total liver suspension, hepatocytes and non-parenchymal cells from poly(I:C) mice treated with unconjugated and GalNAc-conjugated oligonucleotides, n = 3. PD-L1 expression oligo content CMP ID (% of saline-poly(I:C)) (ng/10⁵ cells) Cell type no Avg SD Avg SD Total liver 748_1 31 12.4 2.3 0.3 759_2 28 5.3 8.3 1.1 Hepatocytes 748_1 33 8.0 5.1 3.7 759_2 7 1.0 43.8 18.9 Non- 748_1 31 10.1 2.2 0.7 parenchymal 759_2 66 1.6 1.7 0.9 cells

The results show that naked (CMP ID NO: 748_1) and conjugated (CMP ID NO: 759_2) oligonucleotide reduce PD-L1 mRNA equally well in total liver cells. In isolated hepatocytes, the effect of the conjugated oligonucleotide is almost 5 fold stronger than the effect of the naked oligonucleotide, while naked oligonucleotides showed two fold stronger effect than GalNAc-conjugated oligonucleotides in non-parenchymal cells. In hepatocytes and non-parenchymal cells the reduction of PD-L1 mRNA expression correlates to some extent with the oligonucleotide content in these cell types.

Example 5—In Vivo PD-L1 Knock Down in AAV/HBV Mice Using Naked and GalNAc Conjugated PD-L1 Antisense Oligonucleotides

In the present study AAV/HBV mice were treated with naked or conjugated to GalNAc PD-L1 antisense oligonucleotides, and the PD-L1 mRNA expression and HBV gene expression was evaluated in the liver.

Female HLA-A2/DR1 mice 5-8 weeks old (5 animals pr. group) were pretreated at week −1 vehicle (saline), naked PD-L1 antisense oligonucleotides (CMP ID NO 752_1 at 5 mg/kg s.c.) and GalNAc PD-L1 antisense oligonucleotides (CMP ID NO 763_2 at 7 mg/kg s.c.), these doses correspond to equimolar concentrations of the oligonucleotides. The mice were transduced by 5×10¹⁰ vg AAV-HBV at week 0 (for further details see description AAV/HBV mouse model in the Materials and Methods section). From W1 post AAV-HBV transduction to W4, mice received 4 additional s.c. injections of PD-L1 oligonucleotides or vehicle (saline solution), given one week apart.

Blood samples were taken one week before transduction and one week after each injection.

Mice were sacrificed two weeks after the last injections and their liver were removed following PBS perfusion. The liver was cut in smaller pieces and directly frozen.

To measure HBV gene expression, DNA was extracted from serum with Qiagen Biorobot using the QIAamp One for all nucleic acid kit, Cat.#965672, serum was diluted 1:20 dilution in PBS a total of 100 μl was lysed in 200 ul Buffer AL. DNA was eluted from the kit in 100 μl.

For the Real-Time qPCR the TaqMan Gene Expression Master Mix (cat.#4369016, Applied Biosystems) was used together with a primer mix prepared by adding 1:1:0.5 of the following primers F3_core, R3_core, P3_core (Integrated DNA Technologies, all reconstituted at 100 uM each)

Forward (F3_core): (SEQ ID NO: 784) CTG TGC CTT GGG TGG CTT T Reverse (R3_core): (SEQ ID NO: 785) AAG GAA AGA ACT CAG AAG GCA AAA Probe (P3_core): (SEQ ID NO: 786) 56-FAM-AGC TCC AAA/ZEN/TTC TTT ATA AGG GTC GAT CTC CAT G-3IABkFQ

A standard curve using HBV plasmid (Genotype D, GTD) was prepared using 10-fold dilutions starting with 1×10⁹ copies/μl down to 1 copy/μl and used in 5 μl per reaction.

For each reaction 10 μl Gene Expression Master Mix, 4.5 μl water, 0.5 μl Primer mix and 5 μl sample or standard was added and the qPCR was run.

For the analysis the copy number/ml/well was calculated using the standard curve. The results are shown in table 15.

PD-L1 mRNA expression was measured using qPCR.

mRNA was extracted from frozen liver pieces that were added to 2 ml tubes containing ceramic beads (Lysing Matrix D tubes, 116913500, mpbio) and 1 ml of Trizol.

The liver piece was homogenized using the Precellys Tissue Disruptor. 200 μl Chloroform was added to the homogenate, vortexed and centrifuged at 4° C. for 20 min at 10000 rpm. The RNA containing clear phase (around 500 ul) was transferred into a fresh tube and the same volume of 70% EtOH was added. After mixing well the solution was transferred onto a RNeasy spin column and RNA was further extracted following the RNeasy Kit's manual RNeasy Mini Kit, cat.#74104, Qiagen (including the RNA digestion RNase-free DNase Set, cat.#79254). Elution in 50 μl H₂O. The final RNA concentration was measured and adjusted to 100 ng/ul for all samples.

The qPCR was conducted on 7.5 μl RNA using the Taqman RNA-to-ct 1-step Kit, cat.#4392938, Thermo Fisher according to the manufactures instructions. The fprimer mixed used contained PD-L1_1-3 (Primer number Mm00452054_m1, Mm03048247_m1 and Mm03048248_m1) and endogenous controls (ATCB Mm00607939_s1, CANX Mm00500330_m1, YWHAZ Mm03950126_s1 and GUSB Mm01197698_m1)

Data were analysed using the 2̂-ddct method. The mean of all four endogenous controls was used to calculate dct values. The PD-L1 expression relative to mean of the endogenous controls and in % of saline

TABLE 15 PD-L1 mRNA expression and HBV DNA in AAV/HBV mice treated with unconjugated and GalNAc-conjugated oligonucleotides, n = 5. PD-L1 mRNA expression HBV DNA expression (% of saline) (% of saline) CMP ID no Avg SD Avg SD Naked 752_1 55 35 72 16 GalNAc 763_2 34 3 79 9 conjugated

From these results it can be seen that both naked and GalNAc conjugated oligonucleotides are capable of reducing PD-L1 mRNA expression in the liver of an AAV/HBV mouse, with the GalNAc conjugated oligonucleotide being somewhat better. Both oligonucleotides also resulted in some reduction in HBV DNA in the serum.

Example 6—In Vivo Effect on T Cell Response in AAV/HBV Mice

In the present study AAV/HBV mice from Pasteur were treated with an antibody or antisense oligonucleotides targeting PD-L1. The antisense oligonucleotides were either naked or conjugated to GalNAc. During the treatment the animals were immunized with a DNA vaccine against HBs and HBc antigens (see Materials and Methods section) to ensure efficient T cell priming by the antigen presenting cells. It was evaluated how the treatment affected the cell population in liver and spleen, as well as the PD-L1 expression on these populations and whether a HBV specific T cell response could be identified.

Treatment Protocol:

Female HLA-A2/DR1 mice were treated according to the protocols below. The study was conducted in two separate sub-studies, with slight differences in the administration regimens as indicated in Table 16 and 17 below.

DNA vaccine and anti-PD-L1 antibody was administered as described in the materials and method section. The antisense oligonucleotides used were CMP ID NO 748_1 (naked) at 5 mg/kg and CMP ID NO: 759_2 (GalNAc conjugated) at 7 mg/kg, both where administered as subcutaneous injections (s.c.).

TABLE 16 AAV/HBV mouse treatment protocol with DNA vaccine and DNA vaccine + anti-PD-L1 antibody, 6 mice in each group DNA vaccine + Vehicle DNA vaccine anti-PDL-1 Ab Day (Group 10) (Group 11) (Group 13)  0 AAV/HBV 29* Animal randomization 34 Saline + Isotype — Ab 41 Saline + Isotype — Ab 48 Saline + Isotype — Ab 50 — CaTx CaTx 55* PBS + Isotype DNA DNA + Ab 62 Saline + Isotype — Ab 69 PBS + Isotype DNA DNA + Ab 76* Saline + Isotype — Ab 83 Saline + Isotype — Ab 97* Sacrifice Isotype = mouse IgG control Ab, CaTx = cardiotoxine, DNA = DNA vaccine, Ab = anti-PD-L1 Ab and *= serum collection

TABLE 17 AAV/HBV mouse treatment protocol with DNA vaccine and DNA vaccine + naked or conjugated PD-L1 oligonucleotide (ASO), 7 mice in each group DNA vaccine + DNA vaccine + GN- Vehicle DNA vaccine PDL-1 ASO PDL-1 ASO Day (Group 1) (Group 2) (Group 7) (Group 8)  0 AAV/HBV  29* Animal randomization 39 Saline Saline 41 Saline ASO GN-ASO 46 Saline Saline 49 Saline ASO GN-ASO 53 Saline Saline 55 CaTx CaTx CaTx CaTx 56 Saline ASO GN-ASO 59 PBS + Saline DNA + PBS DNA DNA  62* Saline ASO GN-ASO 67 Saline Saline 70 Saline ASO GN-ASO 74 PBS + Saline DNA + PBS DNA DNA 77 Saline ASO GN-ASO 81 Saline Saline  84* Saline ASO GN-ASO 88 Saline Saline 91 Saline ASO GN-ASO 102  Sacrifice DNA = DNA vaccine, CaTx = cardiotoxine, Ab = anti-PD-L1 Ab, ASO = naked PDL-1 oligonucleotide, GN-ASO = GalNAc-PDL-1 oligonucleotide and *= serum collection

At the time of sacrifice blood, spleen and liver mononuclear cells of each mouse from each group were collected and depleted of red blood cells (Lysing Buffer, BD biosciences, 555899). The liver mononuclear cells required a specific preparation as described in the materials and method section.

Cell Populations:

In the liver the cell population was analyzed by surface labeling on liver mononuclear cells (see materials and methods) using cytometry.

No significant changes were noticed in the frequencies of NK cells in the spleen and liver of treated mice compared to control groups (i.e. vehicle and DNA-immunized groups). Table 18 show that in the liver, groups treated with naked PD-L1 oligonucleotide (CMP ID NO 748_1) and GalNAc conjugated PD-L1 oligonucleotide (CMP ID NO: 759_2) had a significant increase in T cell numbers compared to either control groups (i.e. vehicle and DNA-immunized groups) also presented in FIG. 10 A. This increase was due to an increase in both CD4+ and CD8+ T cell populations (Table 18 and FIGS. 10B and 10C, respectively).

TABLE 18 T-cells in the liver following treatment in millions of cells CD4+ CD8+ T-cells T-cells T-cells (millinons) (millions) (millions) Avg Std Avg Std Avg Std Vehicle (Group 1) 0.77 0.44 0.51 0.35 0.11 0.05 DNA vaccine (Group 2) 0.90 0.24 0.58 0.16 0.16 0.08 DNA vaccine + 1.98 0.90 1.40 0.81 0.41 0.23 anti-PD-L1 Ab (Group 13) Vehicle (Group 10) 1.73 0.87 1.13 0.55 0.40 0.25 DNA vaccine (Group 11) 1.27 0.97 0.79 0.58 0.32 0.32 DNA vaccine + 3.78 1.31 2.46 0.72 0.79 0.39 PD-L1 ASO (Group 7) DNA vaccine + 3.33 0.66 2.18 0.40 0.67 0.17 GN-PD-L1 ASO (Group 8)

PD-L1 Expression:

The expression of PD-L1 protein was evaluated on macrophages, B and T cells from spleen and liver at time of sacrifice. The presence of PD-L1 antibody in the surface labeling antibody mix (see materials and methods) allowed quantification of PD-L1 expressing cells by cytometry.

In spleen, no significant difference between the treatments was observed in the % of macrophages, B cells and CD4+ T cells expressing PD-L1. The % of the CD8+ T cells expressing PD-L1 was lower in mice treated with naked PD-L1 oligonucleotide (CMP ID NO 748_1) and GalNAc conjugated PD-L1 oligonucleotide (CMP ID NO: 759_2) when compared to the other treatments (data not shown).

In liver, PD-L1 was expressed mainly on CD8+ T cells with a mean frequency of 32% and 41% in the control groups (the two vehicle and DNA vaccination groups combined, respectively, FIG. 11A). Treatment with naked PD-L1 oligonucleotide or GalNAc PD-L1 oligonucleotide resulted in a decrease of the frequency of CD8+ T cells expressing PD-L1 (see table 19 FIG. 11A). Significant differences in the % of cells expressing PD-L1 were also noticed for B cells and CD4+ T-cells after ASO treatment, although these cell types express significantly less PD-L1 than the CD8+ T cells (see table 19 and FIGS. 11B and C). Treatment with anti-PD-L1 Ab, also resulted in an apparent decrease in the PD-L1 expression in all cell types. It is, however, possible that this decrease is due to partly blockage of the PD-L1 epitope by the anti-PD-L1 antibody used for treatment, so that the PD-L1 detection antibody in the surface labeling antibody mix is prevented from binding to PD-L1. Therefore what appears to be a PD-L1 down regulation by the anti-PD-L1 antibody used for treatment may be the result of epitope competition between the treatment antibody and the detection antibody.

TABLE 19 % of liver cell population with PD-L1 expression % of % of CD4+ CD8+ T-cells T-cells % of B-cells Avg Std Avg Std Avg Std Vehicle (Group 10) 35.5 4.7 0.75 0.52 5.9 1.5 DNA vaccine 36.8 7.7 0.61 0.08 5.5 1.1 (Group 11) DNA vaccine + 18.6 12.3 0.33 0.10 2.9 1.7 anti-PD-L1 Ab (Group 13) Vehicle 28.5 11.5 0.64 0.21 5.9 1.7 (Group 1) DNA vaccine 44.9 14.4 1.43 0.69 8.7 3.1 (Group 2) DNA vaccine + 9.6 2.4 0.37 0.21 2.9 0.8 PD-L1 ASO (Group 7) DNA vaccine + 14.6 3.3 0.31 0.11 2.8 0.8 GN-PD-L1 ASO Group 8)

HBV Specific T Cell Response:

NK cells and CD4+ and CD8+ T cells producing pro-inflammatory cytokines were detected using the intracellular cytokine staining assays (see Materials and Methods section) detecting IFNγ and TNFα production.

In the spleen no NK cells and few CD4+ T cells secreting IFNγ- and TNFα were detectable (frequency <0.1%) at sacrifice. IFNγ-producing CD8+ T cells targeting the two HBV antigens were detected in mice treated with naked PD-L1 oligonucleotide or GalNAc PD-L1 oligonucleotide as well as in mice from this study which received only DNA vaccine (data not shown).

In the livers of DNA-immunized HBV-carrier mice, no IFNγ-producing NK cells were detected at sacrifice, whereas IFNγ-secreting CD4+ T cells specific for Core or for S2+S were detected in the liver of a few DNA-immunized mice at a low frequency (<0.4%, data not shown). HBV S2+S-specific CD8+ T cells producing IFNγ were detected in the majority of DNA-immunized mice. The frequency of IFNγ-secreting CD8+ T cells increased in mice treated with combination of DNA vaccine and naked PD-L1 oligonucleotide or GalNAc PD-L1 oligonucleotide, whereas treatment with anti-PD-L1 antibody did not add any apparent additional effect to the DNA vaccination (FIG. 12). IFNγ-producing CD8+ T cells targeting the envelope and core antigens were detected in most DNA-immunized groups (except anti-PD-L1 antibody) (FIG. 12B). Most of the S2-S specific T cells produced both IFNγ and TNFα (FIG. 12C). The results are also shown in Table 20.

TABLE 20 % of HBV antigen (S2-S or core) specific CD8+ T cells from total IFNγ or IFNγ + TNFα cell population PreS2-S specific Core specific S2-S specific T cells T cells T cells (% of IFNγ (% of IFNγ (% of IFNγ + cells) cells) TNFα) Avg Std Avg Std Avg Std Vehicle 0.15 0.37 0.18 0.43 0.00 0.00 (Group 10) DNA vaccine 1.48 1.10 0.47 0.53 0.42 1.02 (Group 11) DNA vaccine + 1.18 0.95 0 0 0.38 0.49 anti-PDL-1 Ab Vehicle 0.17 0.45 0.11 0.28 0.00 0.00 (Group 1) DNA vaccine 1.70 1.02 0.27 0.51 0.98 0.90 (Group 2) DNA vaccine + 2.56 1.60 0.78 0.80 1.44 1.55 PDL-1 ASO DNA vaccine + 3.83 2.18 0.68 1.16 2.62 1.62 GN-PDL-1 ASO

Example 7—In Vivo Effect on HBV Antigen and HBV DNA in the Serum of AAV/HBV Mice

In the present study AAV/HBV mice from Shanghai (see Materials and Methods section) were treated with the GalNAc conjugated PD-L1 antisense oligonucleotide CMP ID NO 759_2.

It was evaluated how the treatment affected the HBe and HBs antigens and HBV DNA levels in the serum compared to vehicle treated animals.

Treatment Protocol:

Male C57BL/6 mice infected with recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) carrying the HBV genome (AAV/HBV) as described under the Shanghai model in the materials and method section were used in this study. The mice (6 mice pr. group) were injected once a week for 8 weeks with the antisense oligonucleotide CMP ID NO: 759_2 at 5 mg/kg or vehicle (saline) both where administered as subcutaneous injections (s.c.). Blood samples were collected each week during treatment as well as 6 weeks post treatment. HBV DNA, HBsAg and HBeAg levels were measured in the serum samples as described below. The results for the first 10 weeks are shown in table 21 and in FIG. 13. The study was still ongoing at the time of filing the application therefore data for the remaining 4 weeks have not been obtained.

HBsAg and HBeAg Detection:

Serum HBsAg and HBeAg levels were determined in the serum of infected AAV-HBV mouse using the HBsAg chemoluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) and the HBeAg CLIA kit (Autobio diagnostics Co. Ltd., Zhengzhou, China, Cat. no. CL0310-2 and CL0312-2 respectively), according to the manufacturer's protocol. Briefly, 50 μl of serum was transferred to the respective antibody coated microtiter plate and 50 μl of enzyme conjugate reagent was added. The plate was incubated for 60 min on a shaker at room temperature before all wells were washed six times with washing buffer using an automatic washer. 25 μl of substrate A and then 25 μl of substrate B was added to each well. The plate was incubated for 10 min at RT before luminescence was measured using an Envision luminescence reader. HBsAg is given in the unit IU/ml; where 1 ng HBsAg=1.14 IU. HBeAg is given in the unit NCU/ml serum.

HBV DNA Extraction and qPCR:

Initially mice serum was diluted by a factor of 10 (1:10) with Phosphate buffered saline (PBS). DNA was extracted using the MagNA Pure 96 (Roche) robot. 50 μl of the diluted serum was mixed in a processing cartridge with 200 ul MagNA Pure 96 external lysis buffer (Roche, Cat. no. 06374913001) and incubated for 10 minutes. DNA was then extracted using the “MagNA Pure 96 DNA and Viral Nucleic Acid Small Volume Kit” (Roche, Cat. no. 06543588001) and the “Viral NA Plasma SV external lysis 2.0” protocol. DNA elution volume was 50 μl.

Quantification of extracted HBV DNA was performed using a Taqman qPCR machine (ViiA7, life technologies). Each DNA sample was tested in duplicate in the PCR. 5 μl of DNA sample was added to 15 μl of PCR mastermix containing 10 μl TaqMan Gene Expression Master Mix (Applied Biosystems, Cat. no. 4369016), 0.5 μl PrimeTime XL qPCR Primer/Probe (IDT) and 4.5 μl distilled water in a 384 well plate and the PCR was performed using the following settings: UDG Incubation (2 min, 50° C.), Enzyme Activation (10 min, 95° C.) and PCR (40 cycles with 15 sec, 95° for Denaturing and 1 min, 60° C. for annealing and extension). DNA copy numbers were calculated from C_(t) values based on a HBV plasmid DNA standard curve by the ViiA7 software.

Sequences for TaqMan primers and probes (IDT): Forward core primer (F3_core): (SEQ ID NO: 784) CTG TGC CTT GGG TGG CTT T Reverse primer (R3_core): (SEQ ID NO: 785) AAG GAA AGA ACT CAG AAG GCA AAA Taqman probe (P3_core): (SEQ ID NO: 786) 56-FAM/AGC TCC AAA /ZEN/TTC TTT ATA AGG GTC GAT CTC CAT G/3IABkFQ.

TABLE 21 HBV-DNA, HBsAg and HBeAg levels in serum from AAV/HBV mice following treatment with GalNAc conjugated PD-L1 antisense oligonucleotide. Saline CMP ID NO: 759_2 at 5 mg/kg HBV- HBV- DNA HBsAg HBeAg DNA HBsAg HBeAg Day Avg Std Avg Std Avg Std Avg Std Avg Std Avg Std 0 7.46 0.35 3.96 0.48 3.23 0.14 7.44 0.29 3.87 0.40 3.17 0.13 7 7.53 0.23 4.17 0.45 3.35 0.10 7.53 0.20 3.91 0.42 3.19 0.18 14 7.57 0.24 4.12 0.49 3.19 0.11 7.45 0.22 3.90 0.50 2.99 0.27 21 7.47 0.27 3.93 0.51 3.12 0.05 7.33 0.47 3.71 0.76 2.78 0.26 28 7.68 0.26 3.88 0.67 3.18 0.13 7.45 0.46 3.65 0.93 2.67 0.38 35 7.69 0.21 4.03 0.54 2.95 0.08 7.13 0.75 2.98 1.05 2.04 0.38 42 7.58 0.23 3.89 0.65 3.34 0.10 6.69 0.89 2.60 1.05 1.98 0.45 49 7.77 0.17 3.54 1.06 3.08 0.26 6.56 1.26 2.19 0.70 1.47 0.37 56 7.71 0.24 3.99 0.86 3.28 0.05 6.21 1.48 2.28 0.84 1.38 0.30 63 7.59 0.28 3.67 1.07 3.25 0.13 6.08 1.39 2.08 0.71 1.35 0.30

From this study it can be seen that GalNAc conjugated PD-L1 antisense oligonucleotide CMP NO 759_2 has a significant effect on the reduction of HBV-DNA, HBsAg and HBeAg levels in serum after 6 weeks of treatment, and effect that is sustained for at least 2 weeks after the treatment has ended.

Example 8—In Vitro PD-L1 Knock Down in Human Primary Hepatocytes Using GalNAc Conjugated PD-L1 Oligonucleotides

The ability of GalNAc conjugated PD-L1 antisense oligonucleotide compounds to reduce the PD-L1 transcript in primary human hepatocytes was investigated using genomics.

Cell Culture

Cryopreserved human hepatocytes were suspended in WME supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum, penicillin (100 U/ml), streptomycin (0.1 mg/ml) and L-glutamine (0.292 mg/ml) at a density of approx. 5×10⁶ cells/ml and seeded into collagen-coated 24-well plates (Becton Dickinson A G, Allschwil, Switzerland) at a density of 2×10⁵ cells/well. Cells were pre-cultured for 4 h allowing for attachment to cell culture plates before start of treatment with oligonucleotides at a final concentration of 100 μM. The oligonucleotides used are shown in table 21 and table 8, vehicle was PBS. Seeding medium was replaced by 315 μl of serum free WME (supplemented with penicillin (100 U/ml), streptomycin (0.1 mg/ml), L-glutamine (0.292 mg/ml)) and 35 μl of 1 mM oligonucleotide stock solutions in PBS were added to the cell culture and left on the cells for 24 hours or 66 hours.

Library Preparation

Transcript expression profiling was performed using Illumina Stranded mRNA chemistry on the Illumina sequencing platform with a sequencing strategy of 2×51 bp paired end reads and a minimum read depth of 30M per specimen (Q squared EA). Cells were lysed in the wells by adding 350 μl of Qiagen RLT buffer and were accessioned in a randomization scheme.

mRNA was purified using the Qiagen RNeasy Mini Kit. mRNA was quantitated and integrity was assessed using an Agilent Bioanalyzer. Upon initial quality assessment of the isolated RNA, it was observed that all samples met the input quality metric of 100 ng with RIN scores>7.0.

Sequencing libraries were generated for all samples using the Illumina TruSeq Stranded mRNA Library Preparation, starting with 100 ng of total RNA. Final cDNA libraries were analyzed for size distribution and using an Agilent Bioanalyzer (DNA 1000 kit), quantitated by qPCR (KAPA Library Quant Kit) and normalized to 2 nM in preparation for sequencing. The Standard Cluster Generation Kit v5 was used to bind the cDNA libraries to the flow cell surface and the cBot isothermally to amplify the attached cDNA constructs up to clonal clusters of ˜1000 copies each. The DNA sequence was determined by sequencing-by-synthesis technology using the TruSeq SBS Kit.

Data Processing

Illumina paired-end sequencing reads of length 2×51 bp were mapped on the human reference genome hg19 using the GSNAP short read alignment program. SAM-format alignments were converted into sorted alignment BAM-format files using the SAMTOOLS program. Gene read counts were estimated for PD-L1 based on the exon annotation from NCBI RefSeq, specified by the corresponding GTF file for hg19. A normalization step accounting for the different library size of each sample was applied using the DESeq2 R package.

The reduction in PD-L1 transcript after incubation with GalNAc conjugated PD-L1 antisense oligonucleotide compounds are shown in table 22.

TABLE 22 PD-L1 transcript reduction in human primary hepatocytes following treatment with GalNAc conjugated oligonucleotides, n = 4 PD-L1 expression PD-L1 expression level 24 h level 66 h (library Compound (library size adjusted counts) size adjusted counts) Vehicle 259 156 159 168 192 136 202 211 767_2 7 7 11 14 22 9 28 15 766_2 16 13 15 10 17 11 29 13 769_2 15 21 18 18 25 18 26 25 768_2 41 25 27 48 31 25 34 22 770_2 21 16 44 62 67 51 38 63

All five GalNAc conjugated antisense compounds showed significant PD-L1 transcript reduction after 24 and 66 hour incubation when compared to samples treated with vehicle.

Example 9—EC50 of Conjugated and Naked PD-L1 Antisense Oligonucleotides in HBV Infected ASGPR-HepaRG Cells

The potency of two naked and the equivalent GalNAc conjugated PD-L1 antisense oligonucleotides were compared in HBV infected ASGPR-HepaRG cells.

Cell Line

HepaRG cells (Biopredic International, Saint-Gregoire, France) were cultured in Williams E medium (supplemented with 10% HepaRG growth supplement (Biopredic). From this cell line a HepaRG cell line stably overexpressing human ASGPR1 and ASGPR2 was generated using a lentiviral method. Proliferating HepaRG cells were transduced at MOI 300 with a lentivirus produced on demand by Sirion biotech (CLV-CMV-ASGPR1-T2a_ASGPR2-IRES-Puro) coding for Human ASGPR1 and 2 under the control of a CMV promoter and a puromycin resistance gene. Transduced cells were selected for 11 days with 1 μg/ml puromycin and then maintained in the same concentration of antibiotic to ensure stable expression of the transgenes. ASGPR1/2 overexpression was confirmed both at mRNA level by RT-qPCR (ASGPR1: 8560 fold vs non-transduced, ASGPR2: 2389 fold vs non transduced), and at protein level by flow cytometry analysis.

The cells were differentiated using 1.8% DMSO for at least 2 weeks before infection. HBV genotype D was derived from HepG2.2.15 cell culture supernatant and was concentrated using PEG precipitation. To evaluate activity of test compounds against HBV, differentiated ASGPR-HepaRG cells in 96 well plates were infected with HBV at an MOI of 20 to 30 for 20 h, before the cells were washed 4 times with PBS to remove the HBV inoculum.

Oligonucleotide Potency

The following oligonucleotides

Equivalent GalNAc Naked PD-L1 ASO conjugated PD-L1 ASO CPM ID NO: 640_1 CPM ID NO: 768_2 CPM ID NO: 466_1 CPM ID NO: 769_2 were added to the HBV infected ASGPR-HepaRG cells on day 7 and day 10 post infection using serial dilutions from 25 μM to 0.4 nM (1:4 dilutions in PBS). Cells were harvested on day 13 post infection.

Total mRNA was extracted using the MagNA Pure 96 Cellular RNA Large Volume Kit on the MagNA Pure 96 System (Roche Diagnostics) according to the manufacturer's instructions. For gene expression analysis, RT-qPCR was performed as described in Example 5.

Data were analysed using the 2̂-ddct method. ActinB was used as the endogenous control to calculate dct values. The PD-L1 expression is relative to the endogenous controls and to the saline vehicle.

EC50 calculations were performed in GraphPad Prism6 and is shown in table 23.

TABLE 23 EC50 in ASGPR-HepaRG HBV infected cells, n = 4. CMP ID NO EC50 (μM) 640_1 2.25 768_2 0.10 466_1 5.82 769_2 0.13

These data clearly shows that GalNAc conjugation of the PD-L1 antisense oligonucleotides improves the EC50 values significantly.

Example 10—Stimulation T Cell Function in PBMCs Derived from Chronic HBV Patients

It was investigated whether naked PD-L1 antisense compounds could increase the T cells function of chronically infected HBV (CHB) patients after ex-vivo HBV antigen stimulation of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

Frozen PBMCs from three chronic HBV infected patients were thawed and seeded at a density of 200,000 cells/well in 100 μl medium (RPMI1640+GlutaMax+8% Human Serum+25 mM Hepes+1% PenStrep). The next day, cells were stimulated with 1 μM PepMix HBV Large Envelope Protein or 1 μM PepMix HBV Core Protein (see table 9) with or without 5 μM of CMP ID NO: 466_1 or CMP ID NO: 640_1 in 100 μl medium containing 100 μg/ml IL-12 and 5 ng/ml IL-7 (Concanavalin stimulation was only applied at day 8). Four days later PD-L1 antisense oligonucleotide treatment was renewed with medium containing 50 IU IL-2. At day 8 after the first stimulation the cells were re-stimulated with PepMix or 5 μg/ml Concanavalin A plus PD-L1 antisense oligonucleotide for 24 h. For the last 5 h of the stimulation, 0.1 μl Brefeldin A, 0.1 μl Monensin and 3 μl anti-human CD-107 (APC) were added.

After 24 h the cells were washed with Stain Buffer (PBS+1% BSA+0.09% Sodium Azide+EDTA) and surface staining was applied for 30 min at 4° C. [anti-human CD3 (BV 605), anti-human CD4 (FITC), anti-human CD8 (BV711), anti-human PDL1 (BV421), anti-human PD1 (PerCP-Cy5.5) and Live and Dead stain (BV510) (BD Biosciences)]. Cells were fixed in BD Fixation Buffer for 15 min at 4° C. The next morning, cells were permeabilized with BD Perm/Wash Buffer for 15 min at 4° C. and intracellular staining was done for 30 min at 4° C. [anti-human INFγ (PE)]. After washing in Perm/Wash Buffer cells were dissolved in 250 μl stain buffer.

FACS measurement was performed on a BD Fortessa (BD Biosciences). For the analysis, the whole cell population was first gated on live cells (Live and Death stain, BV510), and then on CD3+ (BV605) cells. The CD3+ cells were then graphed as CD107a+ (APC) vs IFNγ+ (PE).

The results are shown in table 24.

TABLE 24 Effect of PD-L1 ASO treatment on CD3+ T cell from PBMCs isolated from three chronically HBV infected patients. No antigen stimulation Envelope antigen Core antigen CMP CMP CMP CMP CMP CMP Saline 466_1 640_1 Saline 466_1 640_1 Saline 466_1 640_1 INFγ−/ 1.16 4.95 4.81 4.7 9.12 8.62 3.84 9.66 7.31 CD107+ 2.7 3.59 2.74 2.57 3.69 3.2 3.25 3.34 2.92 3 3.87 3.98 4.59 12.5 10.9 9.23 6.11 6.88 INFγ+/ 0.12 1.03 1.15 3.19 17.3 18.9 2.38 15.1 5.75 CD107+ 0.49 3.12 1.75 2.73 7 5.34 1.63 2.35 1.9 0.24 1.13 1.5 1.6 8.16 3.06 1.68 1.9 1.91 INFγ+/ 0.33 1.43 1.08 5.11 7.74 9.47 3.14 7.76 2.83 CD107− 0.61 2.9 2.26 7.84 5.79 5.78 2.33 2.82 2.95 0.17 1.57 1.72 1.22 2.58 0.99 0.1 0.61 1.04

From these data it can be seen that the antigen stimulation by itself is capable of inducing T cell activation (increase % of CD3+ cells expressing INFγ and/or CD107a) in the PBMCs of CHB patients (n=3). The addition of PD-L1 antisense oligonucleotide CMP 466_1 or 640_1 resulted in an additional increase of CD3+ T cell response. This increase was mainly observed in the HBV envelop stimulated group. 

1. An antisense oligonucleotide conjugate comprising: a. an oligonucleotide (Region A) comprising a contiguous nucleotide sequence of 10 to 30 nucleotides in length with at least 90% complementarity to a PD-L1 target nucleic acid; and b. at least one asialoglycoprotein receptor targeting conjugate moiety (Region C) covalently attached to the oligonucleotide in a).
 2. The oligonucleotide conjugate of claim 1, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence is complementary to a target nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2 and/or SEQ ID NO:
 3. 3. The oligonucleotide conjugate of claim 1, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence is complementary to a sub-sequence of the target nucleic acid, wherein the subsequence is selected from the group consisting of position 371-3068, 5467-12107 and 15317-19511 on SEQ ID NO: 1
 4. The oligonucleotide conjugate of claim 1, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence is complementary to a sub-sequence of the target nucleic acid, wherein the subsequence is selected from the group consisting of A221, A360, A180, A160 and A269.
 5. The oligonucleotide conjugate of claim 1 wherein the oligonucleotide comprises a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 466, 640, 342, 287 and
 566. 6. The oligonucleotide conjugate of claim 1, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises one or more modified nucleosides, such as one or more 2′ sugar modified nucleosides.
 7. The oligonucleotide conjugate of claim 6, wherein the one or more 2′ sugar modified nucleoside is independently selected from the group consisting of 2′-O-alkyl-RNA, 2′-O-methyl-RNA, 2′-alkoxy-RNA, 2′-O-methoxyethyl-RNA, 2′-amino-DNA, 2′-fluoro-DNA, arabino nucleic acid (ANA), 2′-fluoro-ANA and LNA nucleosides.
 8. The oligonucleotide conjugate of claim 6, wherein the all the modified nucleosides are LNA nucleosides.
 9. The oligonucleotide conjugate of claim 7, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises at least one modified internucleoside linkage, such as at least one phosphorothioate internucleoside linkage.
 10. The oligonucleotide conjugate of claim 1, wherein the oligonucleotide is a gapmer.
 11. The oligonucleotide conjugate of claim 10, wherein the gapmer has formula 5′-D′-F-G-F′-3′ or 5′-F-G-F′-D″-3′, where region F and F′ independently comprise 1-7 modified nucleosides, G is a region between 6 and 16 nucleosides which are capable of recruiting RNaseH and region D′ or D″ is optional and comprise 0-5 phosphodiester linked nucleosides.
 12. The oligonucleotide conjugate of claim 1, wherein the asialoglycoprotein receptor targeting conjugate moiety comprises at least one carbohydrate moiety selected from group consisting of galactose, galactosamine, N-formyl-galactosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine, N-propionyl-galactosamine, N-n-butanoyl-galactosamine and N-isobutanoylgalactosamine.
 13. The oligonucleotide conjugate of claim 1, wherein the asialoglycoprotein receptor targeting conjugate moiety is mono-valent, di-valent, tri-valent or tetra-valent.
 14. The oligonucleotide conjugate of claim 1, wherein the asialoglycoprotein receptor targeting conjugate moiety is a tri-valent N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) moiety.
 15. The oligonucleotide conjugate of claim 1, wherein the asialoglycoprotein receptor targeting conjugate moiety is the trivalent GalNAc moiety in FIG.
 3. 16. The oligonucleotide conjugate of claim 1, wherein the oligonucleotide conjugate is selected from CMP ID NO: 766_2, 767_2, 768_2, 769_2 and 770_2.
 17. An antisense oligonucleotide comprising an oligonucleotide or a contiguous nucleotide sequence according to claim
 1. 18. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the oligonucleotide conjugate claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, solvent, carrier, salt and/or adjuvant.
 19. An in vivo or in vitro method for modulating PD-L1 expression in a target cell which is expressing PD-L1, said method comprising administering an oligonucleotide conjugate of claim 1 in an effective amount to said cell.
 20. A method for treating a disease comprising administering a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of an oligonucleotide conjugate of claim 1 to a subject suffering from or susceptible to the disease.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the disease is selected from viral liver infections such as HBV, HCV and HDV; parasite infections such as malaria, toxoplasmosis, leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis; and liver cancer or metastases in the liver.
 22. A method for restoration of immune response against a virus or parasite comprising administering a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of an oligonucleotide conjugate of claim 1 to a subject infected with a virus or parasite.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the restoration of the immune response is an increase in the liver of CD8+ T cells specific to one or more HBV antigens when compared to a control. 